As Voter Registration Ends, Will ELECAM Extend?

By Njong Shey

Voter registration in Cameroon has officially ended following President Paul Biya’s decree convening the electorate and setting October 12, 2025, as the date for this year’s presidential election.

According to Paragraph 2, Section 74 of the Electoral Code, the annual revision of electoral registers runs from January 1 to August 31 each year.

However, in an election year, this timeline changes. Section 75(2) provides that “notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 74(2) and 75(1), annual revision or, where applicable, the recompilation of electoral registers shall be suspended from the date of convening the electors.”

This means that, in line with the law, voter registration ended on Friday, July 11, immediately after the President’s decree.

Cases of Exceptional Extension

For thousands of Cameroonians who were still rushing to registration centers at the last minute, there remains a glimmer of hope.

Section 75(3) of the Electoral Code provides that, in case of a recompilation of electoral registers, the Director General of Elections may extend registration for no more than three months.

Whether ELECAM will invoke this clause remains uncertain.

On Friday, just hours after the decree was signed, MMI reported unusually large crowds at ELECAM offices across major towns in the country.

Many people were turned away because the offices closed at 3 pm and staff were unable to process the surge in applications.

Voter Apathy and Turnout Concerns

This late rush contrasts sharply with months of relative calm at ELECAM registration centers.

Voter apathy has been a recurring issue in Cameroon, with millions of eligible voters failing to register or collect their voter cards.

As of June 28, 2025, ELECAM reported that 8.2 million voters were currently on the electoral register. Although the figure is a sharp increase from that of the last presidential election, it falls short of expectations given Cameroon’s estimated voting-age population of over 13 million.

At the 2018 presidential election, ELECAM had recorded 6.6 million registered voters, but only about 54 percent actually turned out on voting day.

Analysts fear that this persistent voter apathy, combined with logistical challenges, could again affect the credibility of the upcoming polls.

Political observers note that improving voter turnout will require not just extending registration but also restoring public confidence in the electoral process, something opposition leaders say is eroded by perceptions of bias and vote rigging in favor of the ruling CPDM party.

For now, Cameroonians who missed the deadline are waiting anxiously to see whether ELECAM will announce an exceptional extension in the coming days.