IEBC Suspends Ballot Papers Tender After Review Request
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has suspended the tender for the supply and delivery of ballot papers and other critical election materials until further notice.
The commission says the move followed an entity filing a request for review at the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board.
The tender covers supply of ballot papers, tactile folders, the register of voters and statutory election result declaration forms.
The decision could affect the commission’s preparations for next year’s elections, since the procurement of election materials forms a key part of its preparations for the polls.
IEBC Statement
Acting IEBC Commission Secretary and CEO Ruth Kulundu said: “Proceedings for the aforementioned tender have been suspended until further notice following a notification of request for Review filed at the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board.”
The commission did not disclose the identity of the party that filed the request for review or the specific grounds raised against the tender.
The development comes as the electoral agency intensifies preparations for the 2027 elections, including the procurement of technology and other materials required for the exercise.
Growing List of Procurement Challenges
The tender suspension adds another procurement process to the commission’s growing list of election-related contracts facing scrutiny or changes as it races to put in place the materials required for the elections.
The IEBC has previously said timely procurement is essential because election materials require extensive preparation, production, verification, transportation and distribution before polling day.
Ballot papers are among the most sensitive materials required for an election, with the commission required to determine quantities based on the number of registered voters and electoral areas.
The procurement also covers tactile folders, which are intended to support voters with visual disabilities, as well as statutory forms used in the declaration and transmission of election results.
The register of voters is another critical component of the procurement because it is used to establish the voters eligible to participate in elections.
What Happens Next
Under the procurement law, a request for review before the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board can interrupt the procurement process when the dispute is being considered.
The IEBC has advised prospective bidders to continue monitoring official communication as the matter progresses.
“Prospective bidders are advised to regularly monitor the Public Procurement Information Portal and the Commission’s website for any further updates or communication regarding the tender,” Kulundu said.
The Commission has not given a new date for continuation of the tender proceedings. The suspension therefore leaves bidders waiting for further direction from the electoral agency and the procurement review process.
The development is likely to draw attention owing to the limited time available for the production and distribution of election materials, elections being barely 10 months away.
The Tender: Up to 180 Million Ballot Papers
IEBC is seeking to procure ballot papers designed to make counterfeiting, copying and substitution much harder.
For the 2027 polls, the commission says it could require up to 180 million ballot papers for the six elective positions.
It estimates that the number of polling stations could rise from 46,229 in 2022 to about 55,000, while registered voters could reach 28.4 million.
There will be seven ballot-paper types, including a possible referendum ballot.
Ballot Paper Colours
| Ballot Type | Colour |
|---|---|
| Presidential | White |
| National Assembly | Green |
| MCA | Brown |
| Senate | Yellow |
| County Woman Representative | Purple |
| Gubernatorial | Sky Blue |
| Referendum | Grey |
Candidates’ passport-size photographs and referendum symbols must measure at least 20mm by 20mm.
Security Features
Among the security features on the ballot papers is a watermark embedded during manufacture, an IEBC logo visible only under ultraviolet light and anti-copy features.
The paper is to be designed to reveal the word ‘Copy’ across a reproduced ballot when photocopied or scanned.
They will also carry guilloche patterns, which are complex lines designed to resist reproduction.
The papers would also be fitted with micro-text, embossed and unique QR codes containing variable data.
The papers will additionally use tapered serial numbers printed with multi-coloured ink and will be perforated.
Dimensions
The dimensions will vary according to the number of candidates.
Presidential and gubernatorial papers will range from A4 for two to six candidates to larger formats for bigger fields. Senate, National Assembly, women’s representative and MCA ballots will similarly expand as the number of candidates increases.
Each ballot booklet will contain the number of papers corresponding to the registered voters at that polling station.