Tanzania has a first-past-the-post system, with the president and vice president jointly and directly elected via simple majority popular vote. They serve five-year terms, which are renewable once.
The October 29, 2025, election is a little unusual because current President Samia Suluhu Hassan is competing in her first presidential election.
She took over as president upon the death of President John Magufuli in 2021. Hassan, the first woman to lead Tanzania, was his deputy.
Seventeen candidates and their parties are officially running for top office.
However, Hassan of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party is the only nationally recognized candidate, and the two main opposition parties, Chadema and ACT-Wazalendo (Alliance for Change and Transparency), are not taking part.
Major candidates from both parties have also been banned from standing for election.
