Cambodia Launches Voter Registration for 2027 Local Elections

PHNOM PENH, Sept 7, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia’s National Election Committee (NEC) has opened its annual voter-list review and registration drive ahead of the country’s 2027 commune and sangkat council polls. NEC president Prach Chan announced the launch Monday at a meeting attended by about 100 representatives from government institutions, political parties, civil society groups and the media. The nationwide registration period will run for 55 days, from October 7 to November 30, the NEC said. The exercise aims to update the permanent voter roll to ensure it is complete and accurate, while safeguarding personal data. The updated list will be validated between October 7, 2026 and February 12, 2027.More than 10.1 million invitation letters have been issued to citizens already on the 2025 voter list, with distribution underway in villages across the country until October 30. Eligible citizens include those registering for the first time, those who will turn 18 by the June 2027 elections, and voters who have moved to a new commune or sangkat. Names of deceased individuals, those stripped of voting rights, or those who have relocated will be removed with proper documentation. Voters may also request corrections to personal details and update biometric data. The NEC will collect new photographs and fingerprints from those who registered in 2016–2017 but have not refreshed their records. “People’s appearance can change significantly over a decade, which may complicate identification at polling stations,” Chan said, noting that Cambodia introduced computerized biometric registration in 2016. The updated register will be used for the sixth-mandate commune and sangkat council elections, scheduled for June 6, 2027. The NEC urged eligible voters to register or update their details, and called on political parties, civil society groups and media outlets to help raise awareness. Local authorities have been instructed to maintain order and facilitate the issuance of identity documents. Arrangements are also being made for the accreditation of national and international observers, journalists and party agents. Representatives from 15 political parties, 14 associations and NGOs, 11 media organizations, government institutions and the Japanese embassy attended Monday’s meeting. The NEC said it expected the process to be completed successfully through cooperation among all stakeholders and in line with Cambodia’s electoral procedures.