(Posted 27th September 2025)
An allegation has emerged that a voter at the English River Special Voting Station was given a pre-marked ballot paper, causing an immediate outcry by several parties and a demand for an instant investigation. The Electoral Commission has in fact confirmed the alleged incident and made efforts to reassure the public that the allegations would be fully investigated, as shown above. .
Five of the eight candidates for president subsequently called a press conference – notably did the other three see nothing wrong with the alleged event – They demanded that the Electoral Commission of Seychelles shed light on the incident.
They also blasted the Vice President and the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation for ignoring the legally demanded cooling off period before election days, pointing at the Vice President for comments over the highly disputed Assomption Island development and talking about cabinet decisions.
Two regular sources from Mahe and Praslin said to ATCNews that if the allegations are proven to be true it would be a most serious breach of election laws and would put the integrity of the entire election into doubt. The incidents were described as a deep rooted disregard of democratic norms and a pointer to the culture of impunity, where especially incumbents seem to think that they are above the law and can instrumentalize government and security bodies to do their bidding against the opposition.
This sadly is a classic scenario often seen on the African mainland before and during elections and now all too visible also in the Seychelles. .
The first day of polling is traditionally reserved for special stations on Mahé, Praslin and Outer Islands. On Mahé, the special polling stations are at the English River School and La Rosière creche and they will be open between 7am and 5pm, the North East Point Home for the Elderly from 7am to 12 noon, the Remand Centre in Perseverance from 7am to 12 noon, while on Praslin, the special polling station has been set up at the Baie Ste Anne primary school and will be open from 7am to 5pm.
The main election day is the 27th of October which has been declared a public holiday to allow the people of Seychelles to cast their votes.
