Staff Reporter
THE Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has been advised to adopt a robust ballot paper management strategy to prevent shortages like those experienced during Wednesday’s election.
This is one of the key recommendations made by Anne Semamba Makinda, Head of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) and former Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, following Wednesday’s election.
“The ECN should adopt a robust ballot paper management strategy to prevent shortages. This includes accurate voter registration data, contingency plans for unexpected surges, and periodic audits of ballot paper distribution. In cases of shortages, all stakeholders must be promptly informed and consulted to maintain transparency and accountability,” Makinda advised.
She further recommended that the government consider reforming its electoral system. According to her, the current system, where the entire country is treated as one constituency, allowing voters to cast their vote in any location irrespective of registration, creates logistical and administrative challenges, such as ballot paper shortages at certain polling stations.
Makinda highlighted that the SEOM observed the voting process in all 14 regions of the country on Wednesday. The SADC observer teams covered 221 polling stations and identified several operational challenges.
“The Mission noted that the voting on 27 November 2024 was characterised by operational lapses such as a shortage of ballot papers at polling stations, heating of tablets, running out of batteries for the ultraviolet light torches, and mobile polling stations leaving before some voters had cast their vote,” she said.
To address these issues, Makinda recommended that the ECN establish a formal crisis management framework to handle emergencies, such as ballot shortages or the need for extended voting days. This framework, she emphasised, should include procedures for stakeholder consultation, clear timelines for decision-making, and effective communication strategies to ensure transparency and inclusivity.
She also advised the ECN to arrange contracts for temporary staff well in advance to avoid last-minute disputes, establish multiple voting streams within polling stations to reduce queues and voter frustration, and conduct post-election stakeholder reviews to address concerns raised during the process and rebuild confidence.
