IEBC Unveils Ballot Paper Colours for 2027 Presidential and Other Elections

IEBC Unveils Ballot Paper Colours for 2027 Presidential and Other Elections

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has confirmed that the six ballot paper colours used in Kenya’s recent General Elections will remain in place for the 2027 polls.

The announcement means voters will continue using a familiar colour system when casting ballots for the President, governor, senator, woman representative, Member of the National Assembly and Member of the County Assembly.

The six colours have been used consistently since the introduction of Kenya’s devolved system under the 2010 Constitution.

The Presidential ballot paper will remain white, while the Governor ballot will be sky blue.

The Senator ballot will remain yellow, with the Woman Representative ballot retaining its purple colour.

For parliamentary elections, the Member of the National Assembly ballot will remain green, while the Member of the County Assembly ballot will continue to use beige or brown.

The colour system is designed to help voters distinguish between the six elective positions and identify the correct ballot box at polling stations.

Six Ballot Colours Remain Unchanged

Images obtained on Wednesday, August 12, showed that the colour arrangement remains similar to that used in the 2013, 2017 and 2022 General Elections.

The consistency is expected to make it easier for voters who have participated in previous elections to identify the correct ballot papers.

Each ballot paper colour corresponds with the colour of the lid on the designated ballot box. The system is intended to reduce confusion and prevent voters from placing ballots in the wrong boxes.

The arrangement became necessary after the 2010 Constitution introduced additional elective positions under Kenya’s devolved system.

Before the Constitution took effect, voters had fewer ballots to handle because positions such as governor, senator and woman representative did not exist.

How the System Worked Before 2010

During the 2007 General Election, the Electoral Commission of Kenya used three main ballot colours.

The presidential ballot was white or off-white, while the parliamentary ballot was green. The civic ballot used to elect councillors was blue.

The introduction of county governments after the 2010 Constitution expanded the number of elective positions and created the need for a more detailed ballot identification system.

The six-colour arrangement has since been maintained across successive General Elections.

IEBC Prepares for 2027 Election

The confirmation of ballot paper colours comes as IEBC steps up preparations for the August 2027 General Election.

The commission is also preparing for the procurement of election materials, including ballot papers, voter registration equipment and other technology required for the polls.

With preparations underway, voters are expected to receive additional information on voting procedures before election day.

The colour system will form part of the voter education process, particularly for first-time voters who will be participating in a General Election for the first time.

Assistive Tools for Visually Impaired Voters

The ballot colour system will not be the only mechanism used to help voters navigate the polling process.

Visually impaired voters will rely on assistive voting technologies and other accessibility measures rather than identifying ballots through colour.

Special mechanisms include tactile voting devices and cardboard overlays with raised numbers and Braille identifiers.

The measures are intended to help persons with disabilities cast their votes more independently while maintaining the secrecy of the ballot.

The accessibility measures are being implemented within a broader legal framework aimed at strengthening participation by persons with disabilities.

As the 2027 election approaches, IEBC is expected to continue releasing information on voting procedures, election materials and voter education.

For millions of Kenyan voters, however, one part of the process will remain familiar: white for President, sky blue for Governor, yellow for Senator, purple for Woman Representative, green for MP and beige or brown for MCA.

The unchanged colour system is expected to provide continuity as Kenya prepares for its next General Election.

ALSO READ: IG Kanja Orders Immediate Interdiction of Officers After Deaths in Police Custody

IEBC Unveils Ballot Paper Colours for 2027 Presidential and Other Elections