THE Independent National Electoral Commission (NEC) has called on residents in 16 regions to actively participate in the second phase of updating the Permanent Voters' Register by verifying and correcting their information at designated centers.

Justice Jacobs Mwambegele, the INEC chairman, issued this appeal in midweek, officiating at a one-day training session for voter registration officers based in Kibaha, Coast Region.

“I urge all eligible citizens in these 16 regions to come forward and update their voter information or register afresh. This is the final opportunity—no further updates will be made after this,” he said, noting that the exercise will run for a week, up to May 22.

Regions involved in this second round include Arusha, Manyara, Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Morogoro, Coast, Singida, Dodoma, Dar es Salaam, Lindi, Mtwara, Urban West, Unguja North, Unguja South, Pemba North and Pemba South.

Biometric registration operators and assistant registrars have to uphold electoral laws, regulations and procedures in serving the public, he said, stressing that as during the previous round, they need to remain professional, follow legal guidelines and treat every person with respect.

The exercise is mandated under Section 16(5) of the Presidential, Parliamentary, and Councillors Elections Act No. 1 of 2024, which requires INEC to update the Permanent Voters' Register twice—after a general election and before the next nomination phase.

Dr Rogers Shemwelekwa, the Kibaha Town Council registration officer, urged residents to check the preliminary voters’ list posted at registration centers and make any needful corrections.

The second phase of voter register updates has been conducted alongside the public display of the preliminary register since May 1, concluding on July 4, with the exercise having covered three phases.

Phase I (May 1–7) covered 15 regions, namely Iringa, Geita, Kagera, Mara, Shinyanga, Mwanza, Simiyu, Rukwa, Tabora, Katavi, Kigoma, Ruvuma, Mbeya, Njombe and Songwe.

Phase II (May 16–22) covers 16 regions, whereas Phase III (June 28–July 4) will involve 130 prison facilities across the Mainland and 10 correctional centres in Zanzibar.

A total of 7,869 registration centers will be used in Phase II, while updates will be conducted at the ward level for the Mainland and at constituency level in Zanzibar, the commission earlier explained.

The first phase of updating the Permanent Voters’ Register ran from July 20, 2024 to March 25, 2025 officials noted.