Electoral Integrity Index ranks Malawi among the countries that recorded the most notable improvements

* The report published by the Electoral Integrity Project (EIP), Malawi’s PEI score increased from 59 in 2025 to 69 in 2026, representing a 10-point improvement

* The report lists Malawi, the Philippines, Poland, Gabon and Egypt as the countries that registered the most significant gains in overall electoral integrity compared to their previous elections

By Duncan Mlanjira

While the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is embroided in unsavoury news internally, it has been recognised in the findings of the 2026 Perceptions of Electoral Integrity (PEI) Report, identifying Malawi among the countries that recorded the most notable improvements in electoral integrity following the 2025 General Election.

A statement from MEC issued on Thursday, July 23, indicates a report by published by the Electoral Integrity Project (EIP) indicates that Malawi’s PEI score increased from 59 in 2025 to 69 in 2026, representing a 10-point improvement.

“The report lists Malawi, the Philippines, Poland, Gabon and Egypt as the countries that registered the most significant gains in overall electoral integrity compared to their previous elections,” says the statement issued by MEC’s director of media & public relations, Sangwani Mwafulirwa.

He further explains that the PEI is an internationally recognised index that assesses the quality of elections around the world, “based on the assessments of independent election experts who evaluate every stage of the electoral cycle, including the legal framework, electoral procedures, voter registration, campaign environment, media coverage, campaign finance, polling, vote counting, results management and the performance of electoral management bodies.

“The assessments are aggregated into an overall index ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating stronger electoral integrity.”

MEC thus views the improvement in Malawi’s score “as an encouraging recognition of the collective efforts made by all electoral stakeholders in strengthening the country’s democratic processes”.

“The conduct of credible elections is a shared responsibility involving the MEC, political parties, candidates, civil society organisations, the media, security agencies, development partners, the Judiciary and the electorate.

“The Commission, therefore, acknowledges the contribution of all stakeholders in achieving this positive outcome. While the findings are encouraging, the Commission recognises that electoral integrity is a continuous process rather than a destination.

“Every election presents opportunities for learning and improvement. The Commission remains committed to implementing recommendations arising from post-election reviews, strengthening institutional capacity, embracing innovation and maintaining transparency and professionalism in the administration of elections.

“The Commission further notes that independent assessments such as the PEI provide valuable opportunities for benchmarking Malawi’s electoral processes against international standards and identifying areas that require further attention.

“The findings will, therefore, contribute to ongoing efforts aimed at enhancing the credibility, inclusiveness and integrity of future elections.”

The full 2026 Perceptions of Electoral Integrity Report is available from the Electoral Integrity Project and can be accessed at: https://www.electoralintegrityproject.com/reports