Electoral Commission begins issuance of Voter Location Slips ahead of 2026 general elections

KAMPALA – The Electoral Commission (EC) has launched the nationwide issuance of Voter Location Slips (VLS) as part of preparations for the 2026 General Elections, Chairperson Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon has announced.

Justice Byabakama said the exercise, which runs from 15 December 2025 to 13 January 2026, is aimed at helping voters easily identify and locate their respective polling stations on voting day. The issuance is being conducted at Parish and Ward level across the country.

According to the EC Chairperson, each Voter Location Slip contains a voter’s personal details, including their photograph, names, date of birth, and full polling location information such as the district, constituency, sub-county, parish, and specific polling station. The slip also carries a unique barcode that will be scanned using Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVK) at polling stations to aid voter verification.

“The Voter Location Slip is an important tool intended to make the voting process smoother by enabling voters to quickly identify where they are supposed to cast their ballots,” Justice Byabakama said.

The VLS will be used during all elections under the 2026 General Elections, including:

Presidential and Parliamentary elections;

District and City Chairperson and Councillor elections;

Municipality and City Division Chairperson and Councillor elections; and

Sub-county, Town, and Municipal Division Chairperson and Councillor elections.

Justice Byabakama emphasized that the Voter Location Slip is issued free of charge and must be collected in person from the Parish or Ward Supervisor, who is an employee of the Electoral Commission. Only voters whose details appear on the Polling Day Register will be issued with a slip during the exercise.

He urged all registered voters to collect their Voter Location Slips from their respective Parish Headquarters and to keep them safely, cautioning against damage or tampering with the barcode, which is essential for verification.

In addition, voters can confirm their polling station details online using their National Identification Number (NIN) through the Electoral Commission website.

However, the EC Chairperson clarified that the National Voters’ Register remains the primary legal document for voting. As such, any voter whose name appears on the Register will still be allowed to vote on polling day, even if they are unable to present a Voter Location Slip.