The Electoral Commission (EC) has finally come through for voters with fresh guidance clarifying what constitutes a valid or invalid vote, in a last-minute nationwide voter education drive.

In a circular issued to all election officials, the EC directed parish and sub-county supervisors to carry out community-level voter education on January 13 and 14, just days before polling, with a strong focus on helping voters avoid mistakes that could invalidate their ballots.

According to the EC, one of the main causes of invalid votes is improper marking of the ballot paper. Each ballot paper contains four columns: the candidate's name, photograph, symbol and an empty box where the voter must indicate their choice.

The Commission emphasized that voters are only allowed to use authorised marks -- either a tick or a thumbprint. Any other mark, symbol or writing on the ballot paper is not permitted.

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An invalid vote, the EC explained, occurs when:

A voter places more than one mark on the ballot paper. The authorised mark is placed outside the box and crosses into another candidate's box. Unauthorised marks or writings appear anywhere on the ballot paper. The voter's intention is unclear.

However, the EC clarified that a vote will still be considered valid if the authorised mark is placed on the candidate's name, photograph or symbol, as long as the voter's intention is clearly identifiable.

The Commission also reminded voters that the use of the Biometric Voter Verification Kit (BVVK) is mandatory, and every voter must be verified before receiving a ballot paper.

The late voter education exercise is intended to reduce the number of spoiled ballots and ensure that every voter's choice counts, especially in what is expected to be a closely watched election.

Ugandans will vote for the President and Members of Parliament at polling stations across the country on Thursday, January 15, 2026.