Ballot papers return to today's by-elections
The Supreme Court ruled last month that the use of electronic voting machines without a paper trail was unconstitutional.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) said it has registered 21 786 and 7 391 voters for the Otjiwarongo and Opuwo Rural constituencies by-elections taking place today.
In a statement availed to the media last Thursday, the ECN said it has established 35 polling stations for Otjiwarongo and 79 polling stations for the Opuwo Rural constituency.
“Preparations for the conducting of the regional council by-elections for the two constituencies are well on course,” the statement said.
The Opuwo Rural by-election was necessitated by the resignation of former constituency councillor Kazeongere Tjeundo in compliance with the Electoral Act No. 5 of 2014 and the Namibian Constitution, in order for him to qualify as candidate for the National Assembly.
The Otjiwarongo by-election was necessitated by the death of Otjiwarongo councillor Julius Neumbo in an accident in December 2019.
Following the Supreme Court judgment on the 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections last month, which ruled that the ECN should not make use of electronic voting machines without a paper trail, the ECN will make use of manual ballot papers for the by-elections.
“ECN convened a meeting with the Political Party Liaison Committee authorised representatives on 14 February to discuss the method of vote-casting during the Otjiwarongo and Opuwo Rural constituencies by-elections. Thirteen political party representatives unanimously agreed to the usage of manual ballot papers for the elections of the two constituencies,” the statement reads.
The ballot papers for the two constituencies were printed on 21 February after the approval and signing off of the sample paper ballot by authorised representatives from contesting political parties and the independent candidate on 20 February.
“The dispatching of election materials to the two constituencies was between 4 and 5 March. All sensitive election materials will be kept at the police station in the respective constituencies for safe-keeping until deployment of the teams commences,” the statement said.
NAMPA
In a statement availed to the media last Thursday, the ECN said it has established 35 polling stations for Otjiwarongo and 79 polling stations for the Opuwo Rural constituency.
“Preparations for the conducting of the regional council by-elections for the two constituencies are well on course,” the statement said.
The Opuwo Rural by-election was necessitated by the resignation of former constituency councillor Kazeongere Tjeundo in compliance with the Electoral Act No. 5 of 2014 and the Namibian Constitution, in order for him to qualify as candidate for the National Assembly.
The Otjiwarongo by-election was necessitated by the death of Otjiwarongo councillor Julius Neumbo in an accident in December 2019.
Following the Supreme Court judgment on the 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections last month, which ruled that the ECN should not make use of electronic voting machines without a paper trail, the ECN will make use of manual ballot papers for the by-elections.
“ECN convened a meeting with the Political Party Liaison Committee authorised representatives on 14 February to discuss the method of vote-casting during the Otjiwarongo and Opuwo Rural constituencies by-elections. Thirteen political party representatives unanimously agreed to the usage of manual ballot papers for the elections of the two constituencies,” the statement reads.
The ballot papers for the two constituencies were printed on 21 February after the approval and signing off of the sample paper ballot by authorised representatives from contesting political parties and the independent candidate on 20 February.
“The dispatching of election materials to the two constituencies was between 4 and 5 March. All sensitive election materials will be kept at the police station in the respective constituencies for safe-keeping until deployment of the teams commences,” the statement said.
NAMPA
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