Steep decline in voter turnout mars Zim’s recent polls

In the just ended elections, Zimbabwe  saw an 18.3%  drop in voter  turnout   compared to the 2018  election, a study by an electoral watchdog has revealed.

This has been revealed  by a study  carried out  by the Election Resource Centre  (ERC)  where  the organisation  noted a sharp decline  in voter turnout in urban areas.

 “The voter turnout dropped from the 84.8% witnessed in 2018 to 66.5% for the 2023 harmonised election, with the most drastic decline noted at polling stations in urban locations where voter turnout fell by 20. 1%  while at polling stations  in rural areas voter turnout  reduced  by 14.5%. “.

ERC  said low voter turnouts have a detrimental  effect  on  legitimacy  and credibility  of elections.

“The voter turnout  national  trend is worrying as it has a potential effect to whittle  down legitimacy and credibility  of polls which sway potential  voters from active participation  in the electoral process.”

According  to  the  statement, the National  voter turnout for the  2023 harmonised election was 68.9% and it was 66.5% at observed stations which  was 2.4% lower than the national turnout average. At rural polling stations, the  turnout was 70.3%, “50% above the average  turnout at observed polling stations and 2.4% above national average. In urban areas  turnout  was 64.2%  with 1.1% above the observed  average and 4.7% below national average.”