A total of 20,851 registered voters are expected to take part in by-elections scheduled for tomorrow, January 5, 2026, to elect councillors in Kirua Vunjo West Ward in Moshi District Council, Kilimanjaro Region, and Mindu Ward in Morogoro Municipal Council, Morogoro Region.
The chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Court of Appeal Judge Jacobs Mwambegele, said the election will be conducted at 55 polling stations across the two wards.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam on Sunday while reading a special statement on the conduct of the polls, Judge Mwambegele said five candidates from four political parties are contesting the vacant council seats.
He commended political parties and candidates for participating in the process, describing their involvement as a key pillar of democratic governance.
“I take this opportunity to remind political parties participating in tomorrow’s election to fulfil their responsibility of deploying agents at all polling, counting and tallying centres,” Judge Mwambegele said.
He added that election supervisors in the respective constituencies and wards have completed all necessary preparations to ensure party agents are able to observe the entire electoral process.
“These agents have a duty to safeguard the interests of their parties and candidates. They must therefore adhere to the laws, regulations, electoral procedures and all instructions issued by the Commission while performing their duties at polling stations,” he said.
According to the INEC chairperson, polling stations will open at 7am and close at 4pm. However, voters who are still in queues at the official closing time will be allowed to cast their ballots.
“If by 4pm voters are still in line, a polling station guard will stand behind the last person in the queue and voting will continue until all those in the line have voted,” he said.
Judge Mwambegele also reminded voters to leave polling stations immediately after casting their ballots and to follow all instructions provided by polling officials while at the stations.
He further clarified that registered voters whose names appear in the Permanent Voters’ Register at their respective polling stations but who have lost or damaged their voter cards will still be allowed to vote using alternative identification.
“Such voters may use a National Identification Authority (Nida) card, a driving licence or a passport,” he said.
The by-elections are being closely watched as a test of electoral preparedness ahead of larger national polls, with INEC assuring the public that all measures are in place to ensure a free, fair and orderly voting process.