Windhoek: The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) asserts that it is prepared to ensure a transparent, safe, and reliable electoral process, with only a few days left before Namibians head to the polls on 26 November.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer Petrus Shaama stated during the Readiness Update on the Elections on Saturday at the ECN head office that the commission has completed all tasks outlined in the 2025 Electoral Calendar, which was released on 25 June.
"We are ready to have transparent, peaceful, and trustworthy elections. To guarantee that the people's will is upheld, all operational, legal, logistical, and security requirements have been satisfied," Shaama said.
To improve openness, accountability, and information exchange, Shaama mentioned that the commission has conducted in-depth discussions with political parties, independent candidates, civil society, election observers, the media, and other organisations over the past few months. According to Shaama, "these engagements help ensure that everyone understands the electoral processes, timelines, and expectations."
He highlighted that voter education has become more widespread throughout the country via billboards, radio, television, social media, and community engagement, particularly targeting young and first-time voters. On election day, the Commission urged all eligible individuals to exercise their democratic rights. The final voter register confirmed 1,499,449 registered voters, representing 90 per cent of the eligible population.
"Of them, 643,117 are young people between the ages of 18 and 35, 808,419 are women, and 691,080 are men. This indicates an increase in the involvement of young people in national decision-making," said Shaama.
The commission has established 2,894 teams to serve 4,861 polling stations to ensure accessibility to voting, marking an increase of 373 teams compared to the 2,521 established in 2024.
On 24 November, special voting will take place for police officers and returning officers. Regular voting will be held on 26 November from 07h00 to 21h00. After the polling stations close, the counting of votes will commence.
"Our responsibility is to safeguard democracy, and we are confident that Namibia will once again demonstrate maturity, peace, and trust in the electoral process," Shaama said, reiterating the Commission's commitment to transparency, security, and justice.
Shaama further called on all stakeholders to enhance voter education efforts to ensure that every registered voter is prepared to exercise their fundamental right to vote.