ECN says it considered nationwide extended voting
Tempo intensify ahead of court hearing
President Nangolo Mbumba, who authorised extended voting, said he too planned on having extended voting apply across the country.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) stated that they considered recommending to President Nangolo Mbumba an extension of voting to the entire country but ultimately found it to be “unnecessary” and “practically unachievable.”
Ironically, Mbumba, in his affidavit last week, said he had initially planned to extend voting to all polling stations for the November 2024 general election but was advised otherwise by the ECN. Instead, voting was limited to select polling stations in the Khomas, Oshikoto, Kunene, and Oshana regions.
In her response opposing the application brought by the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) to nullify the election results citing irregularities, ECN chair Elsie Nghikembua explained that extending voting nationwide would have been logistically impossible.
“It would also negate the very purpose of an extension to cover the entire country because it would be impossible to distribute the remaining ballot papers to all polling stations in time. Such an exercise would require first that all the ballot books be accounted for,” Nghikembua said.
She further noted that this would have caused “impossible logistical difficulty” in ensuring all polling stations accounted for ballot books while maintaining the viability of voter identification marks.
“The Commission received several complaints and requests to extend the election date. The Commission seriously considered these complaints and the citizens' right to vote,” she added.
The ECN also criticized the IPC’s case as “embarrassing,” stating that the party made several allegations without providing supporting evidence.
“The IPC alleges that persons who were not verified as registered voters were allowed to vote. The allegation is vague and embarrassing. It does not identify who those persons are and does not specify at which polling stations these persons voted. The Commission is therefore unable to investigate these allegations,” Nghikembua said.
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Ironically, Mbumba, in his affidavit last week, said he had initially planned to extend voting to all polling stations for the November 2024 general election but was advised otherwise by the ECN. Instead, voting was limited to select polling stations in the Khomas, Oshikoto, Kunene, and Oshana regions.
In her response opposing the application brought by the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) to nullify the election results citing irregularities, ECN chair Elsie Nghikembua explained that extending voting nationwide would have been logistically impossible.
“It would also negate the very purpose of an extension to cover the entire country because it would be impossible to distribute the remaining ballot papers to all polling stations in time. Such an exercise would require first that all the ballot books be accounted for,” Nghikembua said.
She further noted that this would have caused “impossible logistical difficulty” in ensuring all polling stations accounted for ballot books while maintaining the viability of voter identification marks.
“The Commission received several complaints and requests to extend the election date. The Commission seriously considered these complaints and the citizens' right to vote,” she added.
The ECN also criticized the IPC’s case as “embarrassing,” stating that the party made several allegations without providing supporting evidence.
“The IPC alleges that persons who were not verified as registered voters were allowed to vote. The allegation is vague and embarrassing. It does not identify who those persons are and does not specify at which polling stations these persons voted. The Commission is therefore unable to investigate these allegations,” Nghikembua said.
– [email protected]
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