Election Watch | Promoting democracy in Namibia

Electoral disputes

Part 7 of the Electoral Act deals with what happens if there is a dispute about the election results. Court applications disputing the result of an election should be made within 30 days of the announcement of the result of the election in question.

The voters register

It is the Director of Elections’ responsibility to ensure the provisional voters register is made available for inspection by the public and registered political parties in Namibia. This is what happened in the week of October 12 to 16 2009 when the register for each constituency was made available in all 107 constituencies, while the parties were given copies of the whole register. The period for objections to be raised about the register ended on October 19.

Voter registration

Article 17(2) of the Namibian Constitution states that every Namibian citizen who has reached the age of 18 is entitled to vote. The general registration of voters takes place every ten years and the last general registration took place in 2003. In order to ensure that those who did not register previously can still register before an election, the President can declare a period of supplementary registration and this is what is taking place from September 17 to 30 countrywide. The people who should register are:
• Those who turned 18 years of age since the last registration of voters

Election Commission of Namibia

How are the members of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) and the Director of Elections chosen in terms of the Electoral Act (1992)?

Electoral Commission of Namibia

The Electoral Act, passed in 1992, governs Namibia’s elections. The Act has been amended eight times since then and it is expected to be amended again this year. The Electoral Act as amended can be downloaded from the Key Documents section of this website.
The Act provides for:
• The election of Namibia’s President
• The election of members of the National Assembly, regional councils and local authority councils
• The establishment of the Electoral Commission and its powers, duties and functions
• The registration of voters and political parties
• The conduct of elections

The Constitution and elections

Article 1 of the Constitution establishes Namibia a “sovereign, secular, democratic and unitary State founded upon the principles of democracy, and the rule of law and justice for all.”
Article 17, part of the Constitution’s Bill of Rights, states that all citizens shall have the right to take part in peaceful political activity intended to influence the composition and policies of government. All citizens also have the right to form and join political parties. Every citizen over 18 can vote in elections, while citizens over 21 can be elected to public office.

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	Home Electoral disputes Part 7 of the Electoral Act deals with what happens if there is a dispute about the election results. Court applications disputing the result of an election should be made within 30 days of the announcement of the result of the election in question. » Read more The voters register It is the Director of Elections’ responsibility to ensure the provisional voters register is made available for inspection by the public and registered political parties in Namibia. This is what happened in the week of October 12 to 16 2009 when the register for each constituency was made available in all 107 constituencies, while the parties were given copies of the whole register. The period for objections to be raised about the register ended on October 19. » Read more Voter registration Article 17(2) of the Namibian Constitution states that every Namibian citizen who has reached the age of 18 is entitled to vote. The general registration of voters takes place every ten years and the last general registration took place in 2003. In order to ensure that those who did not register previously can still register before an election, the President can declare a period of supplementary registration and this is what is taking place from September 17 to 30 countrywide. The people who should register are: • Those who turned 18 years of age since the last registration of voters » Read more Election Commission of Namibia How are the members of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) and the Director of Elections chosen in terms of the Electoral Act (1992)? » Read more Electoral Commission of Namibia The Electoral Act, passed in 1992, governs Namibia’s elections. The Act has been amended eight times since then and it is expected to be amended again this year. The Electoral Act as amended can be downloaded from the Key Documents section of this website. The Act provides for: • The election of Namibia’s President • The election of members of the National Assembly, regional councils and local authority councils • The establishment of the Electoral Commission and its powers, duties and functions • The registration of voters and political parties • The conduct of elections » Read more The Constitution and elections Article 1 of the Constitution establishes Namibia a “sovereign, secular, democratic and unitary State founded upon the principles of democracy, and the rule of law and justice for all.” Article 17, part of the Constitution’s Bill of Rights, states that all citizens shall have the right to take part in peaceful political activity intended to influence the composition and policies of government. All citizens also have the right to form and join political parties. Every citizen over 18 can vote in elections, while citizens over 21 can be elected to public office. » Read more