Special voting sees high turnout, additional ballot papers required across Namibia

Namibia’s Electoral Commission has reported a higher-than-anticipated voter turnout during the special voting process, resulting in a need for additional ballot papers at several polling stations nationwide.

The development was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon by the Commission’s spokesperson, De Wet Siluka.

Siluka explained that the issue was managed promptly, stating, “They got ballot papers from other polling stations.”

The redistribution aimed to ensure that all special voters could participate in the election without disruption.

In preparation for the special voting, the Commission had initially allocated 8,800 ballot papers, anticipating around 8,000 special voters.

This estimate, however, proved insufficient as enthusiasm among eligible groups led to increased turnout.

Special voting, which commenced smoothly, involved members of the Namibian Police, Namibian Correctional Service, and Namibian Defence Force casting their votes.

The process also included seafarers and Namibian citizens residing abroad, reflecting a wide reach for voters unable to participate on the regular election day.

The Electoral Commission’s handling of the additional demand was seen as a critical response to preserving the integrity of the voting process.

The unexpected surge underscores both the civic duty felt by many Namibians in these sectors and the logistical challenges of accurately predicting voter participation for such events.