Niël Terblanché
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has stressed the importance of timely voter registration for the upcoming Presidential and National Assembly Elections scheduled for the end of November.
Peter Shaama, the Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer at the ECN, last week, announced that there will be no extension window beyond 1 August for voters to register while also urging all eligible Namibians to take immediate action.
He indicated that since the commencement of the General Registration of Voters (GRV) on 3 June, a total of 676 390 Namibians have registered as voters.
This includes registrations both within the country and at Namibian Diplomatic Missions abroad.
The ECN reported a notable daily average of 23 515 registered voters during the period from 24 to 29 June.
Despite the significant number of registrations, Shaama expressed concern over a noticeable decline in voter turnout during the last week of June.
He urged all eligible Namibians who have not yet registered to do so promptly, as the GRV process will only continue until 1 August.
He reiterated that GRV points operate from Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 19:00 across the country and at Namibian Diplomatic Missions abroad.
Shaama highlighted regional disparities in voter registration numbers, noting that the Omaheke Region recorded the lowest number of eligible registered voters since the start of the GRV.
In contrast, the Khomas region leads with over 130 000 registered voters.
“This discrepancy has prompted the ECN to call for increased efforts to boost registration in regions with lower turnout,” he said.
He said the ECN remains committed to ensuring a transparent and fair electoral process.
Shaama reassured the public that the commission is doing everything possible to facilitate the registration process and encouraged all eligible citizens to exercise their democratic rights by registering to vote.
He called on all Namibians to take advantage of the remaining time to register and ensure their participation in the upcoming elections.
“The commission’s efforts are geared towards enabling a robust voter turnout and a credible electoral process, reflecting the will of the Namibian people,” he said.
