Briefing Paper

Malawi’s 2014 Elections: Amid Concerns about Fairness, Outcome is too Close to Call

“Malawians will go to the polls on 20 May 2014 to select their next leaders. In an
Afrobarometer1 poll conducted 6 to 8 weeks before the election, Malawians express strong
confidence in their ability to vote as they choose, but also concerns about the freeness and fairness of the overall process, especially the vote count. Given uncertainty about registration and turnout levels among Malawian youth, as well as the significant number of respondents who did not reveal a vote choice, the election remains too close to call.”