Tick is illegal
Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa, an honorary research associate in the Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa (IDCPPA) at the University of Cape Town and a Senior Lecturer in History at Stellenbosch University, has advised Zambian voters to use a cross when marking their ballot papers in Thursday’s General Election.
Writing on X, Dr Sishuwa said the use of a cross is stipulated under Zambia’s electoral regulations governing the procedure for casting a vote at a polling station.
“VOTER EDUCATION: In Zambia, the only valid way to mark a ballot paper when casting one’s vote in a polling station is using a cross,” Dr Sishuwa wrote.
He cited Regulation 33(d) of the Electoral Process (General) Regulations of 2016, which states that a voter, after receiving a ballot paper, should enter the voting compartment and secretly signify their choice by marking the ballot paper with a cross in the appropriate place.
Dr Sishuwa explained that the cross can take the form of an “X” or “+”, consisting of two lines crossing each other.
He further cautioned voters against using a tick or other markings on their ballot papers.
“A TICK or any mark other than a CROSS on a ballot results in a SPOILT ballot. That is the position of the law ahead of Thursday’s general election,” he wrote.
Dr Sishuwa’s remarks come as voter education gathers momentum ahead of Zambia’s General Election scheduled for Thursday, 13 August 2026.