Phnom penh: Cambodia will launch a comprehensive 55-day review of its voter lists and voter registration across communes and Sangkats nationwide, starting from October 7, 2026, and concluding on November 30, 2026. This initiative was announced by National Election Committee (NEC) Chairman H.E. Prach Chan on September 7.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the initiative forms a crucial part of preparations for the upcoming elections. During an information session at the NEC headquarters in Phnom Penh, H.E. Prach Chan emphasized the importance of this process in readying the voter list for future electoral events. The entire voter review and registration process, which includes the validation of the 2026 voter list, will proceed until February 12, 2027, adhering to the established regulations and procedures for the annual voter list update.
The NEC has adopted a computerized voter registration system utilizing biometric identification to uniquely verify each voter. This system aims to maintain an accurate, secure, and current voter list, ensuring high quality for the sixth-mandate Commune/Sangkat Council Election scheduled for June 6, 2027.
H.E. Prach Chan further elaborated that the 2026 registration period is open to all eligible Cambodian citizens who have not yet registered, including those reaching the age of 18 by election day, i.e., born on or before June 7, 2009. This also extends to citizens who have relocated to a new commune or Sangkat.
The NEC will concurrently remove from the voter list the names of individuals who have passed away, been temporarily stripped of voting rights, or relocated to another commune or Sangkat, contingent on the provision of valid documentation. Moreover, voters will be enabled to request updates to their personal information, such as polling station details, name, sex, date of birth, or voter registration documents, provided they supply valid supporting documents.
Additionally, the NEC will update biometric data, including photographs and fingerprints, for voters who registered in 2016 and 2017 but have not updated their biometric information since. H.E. Prach Chan underscored the significance of voter registration as a foundational element of the electoral process, highlighting the necessity of a comprehensive voter list for conducting elections.
He urged the NEC to diligently oversee the process to ensure that Cambodian citizens can fully exercise their voting rights as stipulated by the Constitution and relevant election laws.