Panama’s electoral authority processed more than 112,000 voter residency changes last year. The National Directorate of Electoral Organization released the official figures this week, revealing significant population movement ahead of future elections.
Data shows exactly 112,408 citizens updated their registered voting address in 2025. Women initiated 57,301 of these administrative procedures, while men accounted for 55,107. The Electoral Tribunal of Panama mandates the process so citizens vote where they actually live.
Officials emphasized the procedure’s legal foundation. “This procedure is contemplated in the Electoral Code and aims for voters to cast their ballot in the jurisdiction where they truly reside,” the Tribunal stated in its report. [Translated from Spanish] The Electoral Code requires the update to maintain accurate voter rolls.
The changes trigger immediate administrative adjustments for upcoming local and national votes. Electoral districts must now reconfigure polling station logistics and resource allocation based on the new population distribution.
Regional Shifts Highlight Internal Migration
Chiriquí province and the adjacent Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca recorded the highest number of address changes. This region, designated as 12-2, saw 17,033 updates. Panama East followed with 12,951 changes, and Panama Center reported 10,360.
Other areas with substantial modifications include Panama West and the Bocas del Toro comarca sector. The data paints a clear picture of internal migration flows. Citizens are moving from rural districts toward central provinces and the capital’s expanding metropolitan area.
Analysts view these numbers as a critical demographic snapshot. Shifting voter concentrations can influence political campaign strategies and regional funding priorities. The tribunal electoral manages this complex geographic data.
Political Party Membership Tops 1.5 Million
In a separate report, the Directorate confirmed over 1.5 million Panamanians are registered with political parties. The total reached 1,556,554 by December 31, 2025. This figure includes members of both legally established parties and groups still in formation.
Men hold a slight majority in party registrations at 797,619. Women account for 758,935 members. Last year alone, 24,533 new citizens joined political organizations across the spectrum.
The ruling Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) maintains the largest membership. Its rolls list 569,713 adherents. The Realizing Goals (RM) party follows with 284,967 members, and Democratic Change (CD) counts 258,821.
Traditional parties like the Panameñista Party and MOLIRENA also show strong membership bases. The figures for parties in formation, such as RELEVO, remain comparatively small but indicate emerging political movements.
Nearly 50,000 Citizens Left Political Parties
Last year also witnessed considerable political party resignations. A total of 48,346 citizens formally left their political organizations in 2025. More women (26,136) than men (22,210) submitted official resignations.
October saw the highest monthly exit rate with 6,653 departures. January recorded 5,893 resignations, and April saw 4,753. This churn reflects ongoing political realignment and voter dissatisfaction documented in the tribunal electoral record.
Electoral officials process each resignation, ensuring the national registry remains current. The combined data on address changes, party membership, and resignations provides a comprehensive view of the evolving electorate. This information directly shapes the planning and execution of Panama’s next general election.