By Rahim Abdul
Malawi has improved its standing on the global Perceptions of Electoral Integrity (PEI) Index, with its score rising from 59 in 2025 to 69 in 2026 following the country’s 2025 General Election.
In a statement signed by Director of Media and Public Relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa on 23 July 2026, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) said the improvement places Malawi among the countries that recorded the biggest gains in electoral integrity alongside the Philippines, Poland, Gabon and Egypt.
MEC said the latest ranking reflects the collective efforts of the Commission and other electoral stakeholders in strengthening democratic processes in the country.
The Commission said conducting credible elections is a shared responsibility involving political parties, candidates, civil society organisations, the media, security agencies, development partners, the Judiciary and voters.
According to the Electoral Integrity Project, the PEI is an internationally recognised index that measures the quality of elections across various stages of the electoral process.
These include the legal framework, voter registration, election campaigns, media coverage, polling, vote counting, results management and the performance of election management bodies.
The Commission said higher PEI scores indicate stronger electoral integrity and greater confidence in the management of elections.
MEC described the latest improvement as encouraging but stressed that maintaining electoral integrity requires continuous efforts and commitment.
The Commission said it will continue implementing recommendations from post-election reviews, strengthen institutional capacity, embrace innovation, and uphold transparency and professionalism in future elections.
MEC further said independent assessments such as the PEI provide an important benchmark for comparing Malawi’s electoral processes with international standards while identifying areas that require further improvement.
