Kenyans preparing to head to the polls in the 2027 General Election will have six different ballot papers to deal with, and the electoral commission has now given voters one more way to tell them apart.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has announced the colours that will be used for the six ballot papers and the corresponding ballot-box lids.
The colour-coding is intended to make voting easier and reduce the chances of voters putting their ballots in the wrong boxes at polling stations.
Here are the six ballot paper colours
Each of the six elective positions will have its own colour:
| Elective position | Ballot paper colour |
|---|---|
| President | White |
| Governor | Light blue |
| Senator | Yellow |
| Woman Representative | Purple |
| Member of National Assembly | Green |
| Member of County Assembly (MCA) | Beige |
The colour on each ballot paper will correspond with the colour of the lid on the ballot box designated for that particular election.
For voters, the system should make it easier to identify the correct ballot box, especially at busy polling stations where six different elections are taking place at the same time.
Why the colours matter
On election day, voters will be required to cast ballots for six different positions: president, governor, senator, woman representative, member of the National Assembly and MCA.
With all six ballots being handled at the same polling station, keeping the colours consistent between the papers and ballot boxes could help minimise confusion.
The IEBC has therefore encouraged voters to familiarise themselves with the system before election day.
IEBC reminds Kenyans to register early
The commission also used the announcement to remind Kenyans who have not registered as voters to do so ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to the IEBC, eligible Kenyans can register at IEBC constituency offices, Huduma Centres or the commission’s customer experience centre at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi.
The commission is already making preparations for the 2027 General Election, including planning for polling infrastructure and election logistics.
For anyone planning to vote in 2027, knowing the six colours in advance could make the voting process a little easier when election day finally arrives.
The simple takeaway: White is for the President, light blue for Governor, yellow for Senator, purple for Woman Representative, green for MP and beige for MCA.
