The stakes
Why this vote matters.
Our explainer on why this contest matters will appear here.
The Gambia
Presidential election 2026 · West Africa
- Expected
- Announced
- Campaign
- Voting
- Counting
- Certified
- Transition
Stage 2 of 7 · Announced
Where it stands
5 December 2026
Dates, candidates and developments remain labelled by evidence and status.
Result status
PendingNo results yetRunoff ruleVerified
None — a single round decides the winnerCandidates
3 listedFinal list not yet publishedLast verifiedOverdue
28 Sept 2026, 02:45 GMTA re-check is due for this stageHow the vote works
Voters pick the president directly.
①How the president is chosenDirect popular vote
②How the winner is decidedFirst-past-the-post: the candidate with the most votes wins
③If no one wins outrightNone — a single round decides the winner
In this dossier
Candidates · 33 candidates, with party and ballot status.Campaign trail · 24Latest: Manneh accuses President Barrow of using Meet the People Tour for political gain ahead of 2026 electionProjectionThe map the forecast starts from, and the rule a winner must meet.Voting & countingHow the vote is cast and counted. The ledger opens when polls open.Key datesNominations open in 28 days.ProcessNothing documented so far.Sources · 3131 sources behind this record.