Niël Terblanché
Over 1.6 million people in Namibia are eligible to vote.
This figure is based on the 2023 Census data, with preliminary results released on 13 March.
The data includes Namibians who were 17 years old by the Census reference night on 24 September 2023, as well as all individuals who were 18 years and older on that night.
Alex Shimuafeni, Namibia’s Statistician-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), described the statement as showcasing the estimated number of eligible voters based on the Census figures.
The NSA released two sets of figures: Namibians aged 18 years and above, and those who were 17 years old by the Census reference night and have since turned 18.
“As the registration deadline of 1 August looms ever closer, the ECN and NSA stressed the importance of all eligible Namibians registering to vote to ensure their participation in the upcoming elections.
According to the NSA, 1 615 910 Namibians (763 772 male and 852 138 female) aged 18 and above are eligible voters. Additionally, 51 868 Namibians (26 003 male and 25 865 female) who were 17 years old by the Census reference night are now eligible to vote, bringing the total number of eligible voters to approximately 1 667 778 (789 775 male and 878 003 female).
Shimuafeni, however, said it is important to note that Namibians in the diaspora are not included in these figures due to the De Facto Methodology used in the 2023 Census, which enumerated people found in Namibia on the Census reference night, including foreigners, rather than the De Jure Methodology, which would count all Namibians, including those abroad.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has reported that a cumulative total of 823 761 eligible Namibians have registered to vote since the commencement of the General Registration of Voters (GRV).
This figure encompasses all the people registered as voters within the country and at Namibian diplomatic missions abroad from 3 June to 6 July.
Peter Shaama, the Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer, revealed that this number represents an average of 24 562 registered voters per day during the week.
He noted a slight improvement in turnout during the week of 1-6 July compared to the previous week of 24-29 June.
Shaama, however, expressed concern over the overall low turnout recorded across the country.
“The Commission is concerned about the low turnout recorded countrywide thus far,” Shaama said.
He urged all eligible Namibian citizens who still need to register to do so within the remaining three weeks before the end of the GRV period.
Shaama again reminded the public that there would be no extension to the registration period.
The GRV continues nationwide and at all Namibian diplomatic missions abroad until 1 August 2024.
Registration points are operating from Monday to Saturday, from 08:00 to 19:00.
