ECN acknowledges ballot paper discrepancies
#namibiadecides2025
With just a week to go before Namibians head to the polls, the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has acknowledged a series of ballot-paper discrepancies detected during final distribution and verification, raising fresh concerns over election logistics ahead of the 26 November vote.
In a statement on Monday, the commission said the issues were uncovered during internal quality checks at its Windhoek logistics facility, where representatives of political parties were present to observe the packing, verification and dispatch of election materials.
The ECN confirmed that ballot papers for the Zambezi, Kavango East, Omaheke, Hardap, //Kharas and Oshana regions had already been dispatched under police escort, as they were not affected.
However, discrepancies were identified in materials intended for Kavango West, Ohangwena, Khomas, Omusati, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Kunene and Erongo.
According to the ECN, the issues included both under-allocation and over-allocation of ballot papers, duplicate papers for regional and local authority contests, and general inconsistencies in the quantities required at specific polling stations.
The commission said the discrepancies originated from UniPrint Global, the South African company contracted to print Namibia’s 2025 ballot papers.
Error correction
The commission said it immediately wrote to the supplier, demanding a full explanation, details of corrective measures, and assurance that corrected ballot papers would be delivered before the final stretch of operations.
The ECN has instructed the supplier to deliver the corrected quantities by 19 November at the latest, emphasising that “time is of the absolute essence” as election teams are scheduled to begin deployment on 23 November.
UniPrint has since committed to airlifting the corrected ballots to Namibia at its own expense, with arrival expected yesterday, 18 November.
As part of its transparency measures, the commission has already notified all political parties, associations and independent candidates of the discrepancies.
It said the verification and packing of the corrected ballots will begin immediately upon arrival – again in the presence of political party representatives.
Protocol observed
All duplicate and excess ballot papers identified so far have been sealed inside ballot boxes, with party representatives affixing their own seals.
The boxes will remain sealed until a disposal date is agreed upon in consultation with the Political Liaison Committee.
The ECN assured voters that the situation remains under control and that both special voting on 24 November and main voting on 26 November will proceed with the correct quantities of ballot papers in place.
“The commission remains fully committed to its mandate of organising, directing, supervising, managing and controlling elections in a free, fair, independent, credible, transparent and impartial manner,” the statement concluded.
In a statement on Monday, the commission said the issues were uncovered during internal quality checks at its Windhoek logistics facility, where representatives of political parties were present to observe the packing, verification and dispatch of election materials.
The ECN confirmed that ballot papers for the Zambezi, Kavango East, Omaheke, Hardap, //Kharas and Oshana regions had already been dispatched under police escort, as they were not affected.
However, discrepancies were identified in materials intended for Kavango West, Ohangwena, Khomas, Omusati, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Kunene and Erongo.
According to the ECN, the issues included both under-allocation and over-allocation of ballot papers, duplicate papers for regional and local authority contests, and general inconsistencies in the quantities required at specific polling stations.
The commission said the discrepancies originated from UniPrint Global, the South African company contracted to print Namibia’s 2025 ballot papers.
Error correction
The commission said it immediately wrote to the supplier, demanding a full explanation, details of corrective measures, and assurance that corrected ballot papers would be delivered before the final stretch of operations.
The ECN has instructed the supplier to deliver the corrected quantities by 19 November at the latest, emphasising that “time is of the absolute essence” as election teams are scheduled to begin deployment on 23 November.
UniPrint has since committed to airlifting the corrected ballots to Namibia at its own expense, with arrival expected yesterday, 18 November.
As part of its transparency measures, the commission has already notified all political parties, associations and independent candidates of the discrepancies.
It said the verification and packing of the corrected ballots will begin immediately upon arrival – again in the presence of political party representatives.
Protocol observed
All duplicate and excess ballot papers identified so far have been sealed inside ballot boxes, with party representatives affixing their own seals.
The boxes will remain sealed until a disposal date is agreed upon in consultation with the Political Liaison Committee.
The ECN assured voters that the situation remains under control and that both special voting on 24 November and main voting on 26 November will proceed with the correct quantities of ballot papers in place.
“The commission remains fully committed to its mandate of organising, directing, supervising, managing and controlling elections in a free, fair, independent, credible, transparent and impartial manner,” the statement concluded.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article