Civil and military authorities surrounding the CENI president and the Analamanga regional chief at the launch of electoral overhaul yesterday in Talata-Volonondry. As the 2027 constitutional referendum approaches, the electoral roll has returned to the forefront of concerns. During the official launch of operations in Talata-Volonondry—a commune with 14 Fokontany, just under 12,000 inhabitants and approximately 11,000 voters according to interim mayor TojoRakotonirina—the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) has undertaken a complete overhaul of the electoral file with a clear ambition: to have a clean, reliable database representative of the electorate. "The old list will no longer be used," warns CENI president Thierry Rakotonarivo. Over four months, citizens are called to register with their Fokontany. Field proximity operations and a digital registration system are planned to facilitate this fundamental process.

Malagasy Nationality
The CENI reminds that access to the electoral file is not automatic and must meet strict conditions. Voting rights are exclusively reserved for citizens of Malagasy nationality, a status that must be justified by official documents (birth certificate, national identity card, or court decision). Firm instructions have been given to Fokontany officials to conduct rigorous verifications. The objective is to permanently eliminate past anomalies—duplicates, deceased persons, or voters who have moved—to guarantee transparency in upcoming electoral consultations.

Civic Duty
For Thierry Rakotonarivo, the stakes go beyond simple administrative procedure. Failing to register means renouncing a fundamental right: that of influencing major national decisions. Citizens omitted from the list cannot participate in any ballot, including the 2027 constitutional referendum. The CENI thus launches a call for general mobilization, recalling that the reliability of the process depends on individual responsibility. The CENI president also addresses political actors and civil society. Often quick to criticize the process during electoral periods, some remain little visible during preparatory field phases. Thierry Rakotonarivo invites them to become directly involved in the census to guarantee transparency of operations. Regarding violations, the CENI takes a harder line: any breach of rules will now be referred to competent courts, exposing offenders—whether electoral agents or ordinary citizens—to penalties provided by law.

Eligibility Criteria
The CENI president finally wishes to distinguish voting rights from candidacy rights: registration on the list is mandatory to vote, but each ballot follows its own eligibility criteria, particularly for the presidency. For her part, Analamanga regional chief Clémence Raharinirina supported this call during her remarks: "The overhaul of the electoral list constitutes a fundamental step guaranteeing citizens' voting rights for the future of the State. Let no one neglect this responsibility. I will never tire of repeating it: each individual registered on the list is able to actively participate in nation-building. Otherwise, we let others decide in our place, risking heavy regrets later." Nadia R.