The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has officially certified 8,786,300 eligible voters for the August 13 elections following the conclusion of the verification process.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka, ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro said the certified figure was reached after duplicate and deceased records were removed from the provisional register, which previously stood at 8,888,912.

"A total of 101,439 duplicate applications were identified and excluded, while 1,172 records of deceased voters were also removed," Kasaro said.

The certified register reflects a notable gender balance, with 4,665,431 women representing 53.1% of the electorate, and 4,120,869 men making up the remainder.

Youth participation also stands out, with 4,066,423 young people registered to vote accounting for 46.3% of the total and underlining the growing influence of younger Zambians in shaping the country's democratic future.

The register further includes 20,162 persons with disabilities, among them 7,584 visually impaired voters, 6,072 with hearing impairments, 4,153 voters using crutches, and 2,353 wheelchair users.

The ECZ has reiterated its commitment to ensuring an inclusive and accessible electoral process for all citizens.