By Nelson Manneh
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced that The Gambia’s next presidential election will take place on 5 December 2026. The announcement was made by IEC Chairman Joseph Colley during the launch of the 2026–2027 election calendar.
The confirmation sets the stage for what is expected to be a highly competitive race as potential candidates begin to emerge and recent polls show varying levels of public support for different political figures.
According to the IEC’s electoral calendar, voter registration will be conducted from 1 April to 14 May 2026, while the display of provisional voters’ lists is scheduled for 7 to 16 July 2026.
“The objection and appeals period will run from the 7th to 21st July 2026, whilst the sitting of revising courts will be on the 22nd July to 21st September 2026,” the calendar stated.
The Gazette Election Notice is to be issued on 2 September 2026, followed by Nomination Days and the Correction of Nomination Papers from 26 October to 6 November 2026. The reconciliation of campaign itineraries and the campaign period will run from 7 November to 3 December 2026.
In addition to the presidential election, the IEC has also set dates for other key polls. The National Assembly elections will take place on 10 April 2027, while the Local Government elections covering both the elections of councillors and the election of mayors and chairmanships are scheduled for 22 May 2027 and 26 June 2027 respectively.
ELECTORAL CALENDAR
2026 – 2027
| PROGRAMME | ACTIVITY | REFERENCE/AUTHORITY | NO. OF DAY(S) | DATE |
| I. SUPPLEMENTARY VOTER REGISTRATION 2026 | Gazette Voter Registration Notice | EA 16(2b) (3) | 1 day | 2 February 2026 |
| Registering Applicants/ Voter Registration Period | EA 14(1) | 44 days | 1 April – 14 May 2026 | |
| Display of Provisional lists of voters period | EA 19 (4)(5) | 10 days | 7 – 16 July 2026 | |
| Objection and Appeals period | EA 22 & 23 | 14 days | 7 – 21 July 2026 | |
| Sitting of Revising Courts | EA 24 -29 | 60 days | 22 July – 21 September 2026 | |
| II. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2026 | Election Day | CONS 46 | 1 day | 5 December 2026 |
| Gazette Election Notice | EA 40 | 1 day | 2 September 2026 | |
| Nomination Days and Correction of Nomination Papers | EA 42EA 47EA 49 | 12 days | 26 October – 6 November 2026 | |
| Reconciliation of Campaign Itineraries | EA 85 (1) | 3 days | 7– 9 November2026 | |
| Campaign Period | EA 85 | 24 days | 10 November – 3 December 2026 | |
| Last Day of Withdrawal of Candidature | EA 51 | 1 day | 27 November 2026 | |
| Cooling-off Day | Admin | 1 Day | 4 December 2026 | |
| III. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS 2027 | Election Day | CONS 96(1) | 1 day | 10 April 2027 |
| Gazette Election Notice | EA 40 | 1 day | 21 January 2027 | |
| Nomination Days and Correction of Nomination Papers | EA 42EA 47EA 49 | 9 days | 6 – 14 March 2027 | |
| Reconciliation of Campaign Itineraries | EA 85 (1) | 3 days | 15 – 17 March 2027 | |
| Campaign Period | EA 85 | 22 days | 18 March – 8 April 2027 | |
| Last Day of Withdrawal of Candidature | EA 51 | 1 day | 3 April 2027 | |
| Cooling-off Day | Admin | 1 day | 9 April 2027 | |
| IV. LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS 2027(COUNCILLORSHIP) | Election Day | LGA 9 | 1 day | 22 May 2027 |
| Gazette Election Notice | EA 40 | 1 day | 22 February 2027 | |
| Nomination Days and Correction of Nomination Papers | EA 42EA 47EA 49 | 10 days | 24 April – 3 May 2027 | |
| Reconciliation of Campaign Itineraries | Admin | 3 days | 4 – 6 May 2027 | |
| Campaign Period | EA 85 | 14 days | 7 – 20 May 2027 | |
| Last Day of Withdrawal of Candidature | EA 51 | 1 day | 15 May 2027 | |
| Cooling-off Day | Admin | 1 day | 21 May 2027 | |
| V. LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS 2027(MAYORAL/CHAIRMANSHIP) | Election Day | LGA 9 | 1 day | 26 June 2027 |
| Gazette Election Notice | EA 40 | 1 days | 15 March 2027 | |
| Nomination Days and Correction of Nomination Papers | EA 42EA 47EA 49 | 8 days | 2 – 9 June 2027 | |
| Reconciliation of Campaign Itineraries | Admin | 1 day | 10 June 2027 | |
| Campaign Period | EA 85 | 14 days | 11 – 24 June 2027 | |
| Last Day of Withdrawal of Candidature | EA 51 | 1 day | 19 June 2027 | |
| Cooling-off Day | Admin | 1 day | 25 June 2027 |
