Elections in Lesotho

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) administers elections in Lesotho, maintains the National Electors’ Register and certifies, publishes and declares results. The national system for the National Assembly is mixed-member proportional representation, usually called MMP. Voters elect 80 members in single-member constituencies using first-past-the-post, while 40 national seats compensate parties through proportional representation. The 80 constituencies are called Electoral Divisions. A voter marks one ballot once. The IEC counts that mark for the constituency contest and again for the national proportional calculation. The proportional quota is calculated by dividing total party votes by 120. Parties first receive the whole-number part of their quota, and remaining seats go to the parties with the highest decimal parts. A party’s final proportional seats equal its calculated total seats minus the constituency seats it has already won. The proportional contest uses closed party lists with at least 40 and no more than 120 names, arranged in alternating female and male order. The Senate is not directly elected by the public. It consists of 22 Principal Chiefs and 11 members appointed by the King on the advice of the Council of State. National Assembly elections therefore have a direct effect on government formation: the King appoints the Prime Minister on the Council of State’s advice, and the Prime Minister must be an Assembly member who leads a party or coalition with majority support in the National Assembly. A no-confidence motion must name a replacement member. A voter generally needs Lesotho citizenship, to be at least 18 on election day and to meet the legal residence qualification. Disqualifications can apply because of foreign allegiance, a death sentence, unsound mind or an election offence, which can lead to a voting ban of up to five years. Registration is obligatory and continuous, but the IEC suspends it from the eighth day after an election period begins. The provisional register must remain available for inspection and objections for at least seven days before the Director certifies the final register. Voting takes place only at the registration or voting station assigned to the elector. A voter normally proves identity with a voter registration card, National ID, passport or driving licence, or through an Official Witness where the rules allow it. A person missing from the register normally cannot vote through the regular procedure, although a written objection may be available. Registration and voting have no fee in the reviewed IEC evidence. The IEC marks the voter’s name or registration number in the register, uses finger ink and places the ballot in a secure box. Voting is secret, and assistance is allowed for a physical or visual impairment. Intimidation, vote buying and campaigning at a polling place are prohibited. Advance voting exists as a statutory, category-specific option rather than general postal voting. A separate diplomatic voting arrangement applies to eligible Lesotho Government staff abroad and certain dependants or employees. The applicable election timetable determines the deadlines and categories. Counting begins at the voting station. The constituency result is produced there and confirmed through the Returning Officer, while national results are aggregated at the National Results Centre. Candidate agents and observers may watch the process and submit written complaints. Election petitions go to the High Court. Parliament may last for a maximum of five years, and a general election must take place within three months after dissolution. The latest National Assembly election was held on 7 October 2022. As of 10 September 2026, the reviewed IEC sources do not establish a fixed date for the next election. The 2022 results included 515,281 party votes excluding independents in the IEC party summary. Turnout is reported as 37.7% by the EU Election Observation Mission and 35.44% by the SADC report, so the figures reflect a methodological source difference. Local government elections held on 29 September 2023 used two ballot papers: one for an Electoral-Division candidate elected by first-past-the-post and one party ballot for additional women’s seats. The party ballot used closed women’s lists in order of preference. The IEC reported 45 parties and 2,138 independent candidates in those elections, with turnout of 26.4%. The IEC has been conducting constituency assessments before intensified voter registration, and Tebello Nthakong has served as Director of Elections since 18 August 2026. The IEC is discussing possible harmonisation of National Assembly and local government elections. The National Assembly Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2026 remains a bill and should not be treated as enacted law.