The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) says it is optimistic that the voter turnout will increase significantly during the 26 November Regional Councils and Local Authorities (RCLA) Elections.
The RCLA elections have seen dwindling voter participation, with the highest of 82% recorded in the 1992 elections and the lowest of 38% in 2020.
But the ECN's Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer, Petrus Shaama, said the electoral body has made significant civic and voter education efforts to increase voter turnout this year.
As part of its regular stakeholder engagements, the electoral body today updated the media on the state of preparedness for the upcoming elections.
Speaking during the engagement at Elections House, Shaama recognised the media as a key electoral stakeholder, indispensable to ensuring robust voter and civic education.
"The Commission has made significant civic and voter education efforts to promote electoral democracy and inclusive participation to increase voter turnout. We have seen a 16% increase in voter turnout in 2024 for the Presidential Elections (76.68%) and National Assembly Elections (76%), compared to 60.8% and 60.4% in 2019, respectively. With our engagements throughout this electoral cycle, including the one we are having today, the Commission is therefore optimistic that the voter turnout will increase significantly as we put our collective efforts together in preparation for the 2025 RCLA elections."
The ECN has also increased the number of polling stations for the 2025 Regional and Local Authorities Elections as well as polling teams, to ensure increased accessibility and voter participation.
ECN's Director of Operations, Zenia Klazen, said 181 polling stations and 378 polling teams were added this year, compared to last year's elections.
There are currently no special provisions to allow for bedridden elderly voters to vote, but Klazen noted that the Commission is exploring options for future elections to ensure that all Namibians are able to exercise their constitutional right to vote.