Right Vote Foreign Res:
Foreigner with 4 year residency
Expat Residency Requirement:
Expatriate citizens always have right to vote with no time limit
Registration Type:
Formal registration in office
Registration Basis:
Residence requirement
Election Management & Enforcement
Nameof EMB:
Electoral Commission
Independent EMB:
Yes
EMBNominations:
5 members : Selection Committee recommends the candidates to the President. President then sends the nominations to the National Assembly for approval. Expert based membership.
EMBTenure:
5 years
Who Runs Election:
Election Management Body
Nameof Elect Enforcement Body:
Supreme Court
Candidacy & Campaign Rules
Restrictto Candidacy:
Every citizen of Namibia by birth or descent, over the age of thirty-five (35) years, and who is eligible to be elected to office as a member of the National Assembly shall be eligible for election as President.
Debate Format:
/
Debate Mandatory Number:
Not mandatory
Debate Mandatory Number:
Not mandatory
Electoral System & Organisation
Elect System Main Election:
Majority
Main Election Type:
Presidential
Main Election Cycle:
4
Numb Round Main Election:
Two
Referenda_Law:
C:63 (1) The National Assembly, as the principal legislative authority in and over Namibia, shall have the power, subject to this Constitution, to make and repeal laws for the peace, order and good government of the country in the best interest of the people of Namibia. (2) The National Assembly shall further have the power and function, subject to this Constitution: [...] g) to initiate, approve or decide to hold a referendum on matters of national concern; C:132 If a Bill proposing... a repeal and/or amenment of any the provisions of this constitution secures a majority of two-thirds of all the members of the National Assembly, but fails to secure a majority of two-thirds of all the members of the National Council, the President may by proclamation make the bill the subject of a national referendum. Source: Constitution: Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, Ch. 19, Art 63 & Art 132, Sec 3 (a)
Voting Machine:
keyboard
Vote IDRequired:
ID not required
Polling Card:
Polling card compulsory
National Holiday Elect Day:
Never
Districting Source:
Government
Districting Flexibility:
A Delimitation Commission (DC) is appointed by the President upon approval of the National Assembly to delimit regional and local government seats. Geographical features including geographical size and make-up of area (some areas are inhabitable, some are virgin land not yet occupied), population density, total number of towns in the area and other infrastructural development. g. Socio-economic characterstics and circumstances; and means of communications.
Polling Station
Average Voterby Polling Station:
313
Normal Opening Time Poll Station:
700
Normal Closing Time Poll Station:
2100
Polling Station Numbers:
3966
Listof Polling Station Buildings:
public buildings
Accessibility Requirement:
Party to UNCRPD
Box Feeding System:
Voting Machine
Vote Receipt:
No paper trail but a lamp on EVM indicates voter's choice
Count Locallyor Centrally:
centrally
Manualor Automatic Count:
manual
Nature Counting Personnel:
Returning Officer
Ballot Paper
Ballot Type:
Electronic
Singleor Multi Paper Ballot:
Single
Ballot Paper Type Description:
Single Ballot Paper with Party Name, Candidate Picture and Symbol.
Ballot Paper Type Photo Upload:
YES
Ballot Logos:
Freely Allowed
Orderof Candidatesor Parties:
random
Remote Voting
Temporal Remote Voting:
No
Geographical Remote Voting:
Automatic right
Personal Remote Voting:
Automatic right
Remote Voting List:
any polling station, by tendered ballot
Mobile Polling Stations:
Yes
Special Needs
Provision First Time Voters:
‘Touch and Feel’ EVM for voter awareness
Provision Illiterate Voters:
Assisted Voting
Special Provision Female Voters:
Pregnant women given prioriti
Provision Blind Voters:
Electoral Act (2003). Section 84, subsection 1 states: A presiding officer or polling officer shall not assist or instruct a voter in the manner of voting at a polling station unless (a) a voter who is incapacitated by blindness or other physical disability from voting in a manner prescribed by the other provisions of this Part, requests in person the presiding officer or polling officer, to so assist him or her in the manner directed by him or her to record his or her vote, but without interfering with the exercising of his or her franchise… Section 84, subsection 2 states: The presiding officer, on the request in person of any voter who is incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause from voting in the manner prescribed by the other provisions of this Part, who has not requested to have his or her vote recorded by the presiding officer in terms of subsection (1) and who is accompanied by any other person, shall, if he or she is satisfied that such person is any family relative or friend of such voter and has reached the age of 18 years, permit such voter to vote with the assistance of the person accompanying him or her, and upon such permission being granted anything which is by the provisions of this Part required to be done or by the said voter in connection with the recording of his or her vote may be done to or with the assistance of the person so accompanying him or her.
Provision Deaf Voters:
Electoral Act (2003). Section 84, subsection 1 states: A presiding officer or polling officer shall not assist or instruct a voter in the manner of voting at a polling station unless (a) a voter who is incapacitated by blindness or other physical disability from voting in a manner prescribed by the other provisions of this Part, requests in person the presiding officer or polling officer, to so assist him or her in the manner directed by him or her to record his or her vote, but without interfering with the exercising of his or her franchise… Section 84, subsection 2 states: The presiding officer, on the request in person of any voter who is incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause from voting in the manner prescribed by the other provisions of this Part, who has not requested to have his or her vote recorded by the presiding officer in terms of subsection (1) and who is accompanied by any other person, shall, if he or she is satisfied that such person is any family relative or friend of such voter and has reached the age of 18 years, permit such voter to vote with the assistance of the person accompanying him or her, and upon such permission being granted anything which is by the provisions of this Part required to be done or by the said voter in connection with the recording of his or her vote may be done to or with the assistance of the person so accompanying him or her.
Provision Motor Handicap Voters:
Electoral Act (2003). Section 84, subsection 1 states: A presiding officer or polling officer shall not assist or instruct a voter in the manner of voting at a polling station unless (a) a voter who is incapacitated by blindness or other physical disability from voting in a manner prescribed by the other provisions of this Part, requests in person the presiding officer or polling officer, to so assist him or her in the manner directed by him or her to record his or her vote, but without interfering with the exercising of his or her franchise… Section 84, subsection 2 states: The presiding officer, on the request in person of any voter who is incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause from voting in the manner prescribed by the other provisions of this Part, who has not requested to have his or her vote recorded by the presiding officer in terms of subsection (1) and who is accompanied by any other person, shall, if he or she is satisfied that such person is any family relative or friend of such voter and has reached the age of 18 years, permit such voter to vote with the assistance of the person accompanying him or her, and upon such permission being granted anything which is by the provisions of this Part required to be done or by the said voter in connection with the recording of his or her vote may be done to or with the assistance of the person so accompanying him or her.
Targeted Initiatives
History Major Changes:
1989: First Namibian election under South African rule.
Transparency Initiative:
The returning officer and electoral staff count the votes in the presence of the party agents.