What is Zambia's 50% plus one rule, and will there be a run-off?

To win the Zambian presidency outright a candidate must take more than 50% of valid votes cast. Not the largest share, more than half. If nobody clears that line, the two highest-placed candidates contest a run-off within 37 days.

This is why the leader's share matters more than the size of their lead. A candidate can be far ahead of the field and still fall short, because the test is against every vote cast rather than against the runner-up.

Hakainde Hichilema (United Party for National Development) is on 60.49% with 226 of 226 constituencies declared.

Common questions

What share does a Zambian presidential candidate need to win?

More than 50% of valid votes cast.

What happens if nobody reaches it?

The top two candidates contest a run-off within 37 days.

Do rejected ballots count?

No. The threshold is measured against valid votes cast, so rejected ballots are excluded from the total.

See the live count Updated Tue 18 Aug, 05:52