Gabon has officially kicked off its electoral calendar with the government confirming that legislative and local elections will take place on September 27.
The announcement marks the formal launch of the electoral process, following a timetable unveiled by the Head of State.
In a statement issued Friday, the Ministry of the Interior, Security, and Decentralization detailed the schedule of key steps leading up to the polls.
The newly formed National Commission for the Organization and Coordination of Elections and the Referendum (CNOCER), established on May 27, is at the helm of the preparations.
The twelve members of CNOCER were sworn in before the Constitutional Court on July 9.
Electoral roll revisions are set to begin on July 14 and will run until August 12, operating daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. across the country and in Gabon’s diplomatic missions abroad. The process targets new voters, changes of polling stations, removal of deceased or ineligible voters, and updates to personal information.
In a move to streamline participation among youth, the ministry confirmed that all Gabonese aged 18 or over who possess a Personal Identification Number (PIN) will be automatically registered.
These voters will simply need to select their preferred polling location.
The renewal process for the Election and Referendum Supervisory Authority (ACER) will take place from July 14 to 21, with applications to be reviewed ahead of appointments via presidential decree. Those selected will also be sworn in before the Constitutional Court.
Local electoral commissions are to be fully operational by July 26 and will be deployed domestically and internationally.
For the first time, Gabon’s diaspora will directly elect two representatives—one from the Africa region, and another from the Europe-America-Asia-Oceania bloc.
The window for submitting candidate applications runs from July 27 to August 7. Forms will be made available from July 27, with review and adjudication continuing until August 27—the deadline for filing appeals in relevant courts.
According to the electoral timetable, campaigning for the first round will span September 17 to 26, followed by the national vote on September 27.
If required, a second round of legislative elections will be held on October 11, preceded by a campaign period from October 1 to 10.
Both the Ministry of the Interior and CNOCER have pledged to uphold “credible, transparent and peaceful” elections. They have urged all Gabonese citizens to engage actively in shaping the Fifth Republic through democratic participation.
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