Covid precautions for next week's elections
CLAUDIA REITER
WINDHOEK
The chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Notemba Tjipueja, has assured the nation that the safety of all voters in next week's regional and local elections has been a priority at all stages of the election process.
The ECN has taken the necessary measures to protect its staff and voters from the coronavirus, she said.
“The preparations were not only about logistical preparation, but also about how to conduct this process while ensuring the safety of all participants from the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Tjipueja.
Health protocols will be followed at all polling stations, and Tjipueja urged voters to comply with the measures.
Safety first
The polling stations were set up in such a way that social distancing can be maintained, she said. Election officers will be given protective clothing such as masks and gloves.
Voters' temperatures will be checked and they will have to sanitise their hands before entering polling stations.
Outside the polling stations, police officers will be present to ensure that social distancing is maintained and that everyone wears a mask.
Low turnout feared
The Electoral Commission has also issued a report on its strategy to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 during the regional and local elections.
The pandemic has made it very difficult to organise the elections, it says.
There is also the possibility that election workers may fear contagion or become infected. A lack of qualified election workers could then lead to technical bottlenecks.
“Given the high unemployment rate in Namibia, however, it is unlikely that a shortage of election officials will be a scenario that the ECN will encounter,” the report says.
Also, voters may be reluctant to go to the polls out of fear of getting infected among the large crowds.
“The conduct of voting activities online, or any form of postal voting, is not permitted by law in Namibia. This means that personal physical presence is a legal requirement for participation in voter registration and voting,” the report says.
WINDHOEK
The chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Notemba Tjipueja, has assured the nation that the safety of all voters in next week's regional and local elections has been a priority at all stages of the election process.
The ECN has taken the necessary measures to protect its staff and voters from the coronavirus, she said.
“The preparations were not only about logistical preparation, but also about how to conduct this process while ensuring the safety of all participants from the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Tjipueja.
Health protocols will be followed at all polling stations, and Tjipueja urged voters to comply with the measures.
Safety first
The polling stations were set up in such a way that social distancing can be maintained, she said. Election officers will be given protective clothing such as masks and gloves.
Voters' temperatures will be checked and they will have to sanitise their hands before entering polling stations.
Outside the polling stations, police officers will be present to ensure that social distancing is maintained and that everyone wears a mask.
Low turnout feared
The Electoral Commission has also issued a report on its strategy to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 during the regional and local elections.
The pandemic has made it very difficult to organise the elections, it says.
There is also the possibility that election workers may fear contagion or become infected. A lack of qualified election workers could then lead to technical bottlenecks.
“Given the high unemployment rate in Namibia, however, it is unlikely that a shortage of election officials will be a scenario that the ECN will encounter,” the report says.
Also, voters may be reluctant to go to the polls out of fear of getting infected among the large crowds.
“The conduct of voting activities online, or any form of postal voting, is not permitted by law in Namibia. This means that personal physical presence is a legal requirement for participation in voter registration and voting,” the report says.
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