Elections in Namibia

The President is elected directly when a candidate receives more than 50% of valid votes. If no candidate reaches that level, the two leading candidates proceed to a second ballot within a maximum of 60 days. A presidential candidate must be a Namibian citizen by birth or descent, older than 35, eligible to vote for the National Assembly and registered as a voter. A political party or an independent candidate may nominate a presidential candidate; an independent candidate needs at least 500 registered supporters in each of Namibia's 14 regions, or 7,000 supporters in total. Candidate deposits can apply, including N$20,000 for a party candidate and N$10,000 for an independent candidate under the stated rules. The National Assembly has 96 elected seats and may also contain up to eight non-voting members appointed by the President. Voters choose a registered party list in a direct and secret proportional election. The seat quota is calculated from valid votes divided by 96, and remaining seats are assigned by the largest remainder method, with ties decided by lot. A party list must contain at least 32 and at most 96 candidates, and a candidate must be a registered voter and party member. Members serve for a maximum legislative term of five years. Namibia has 14 regions and 121 constituencies. Each constituency elects one regional councillor by first-past-the-post voting: the candidate with the highest number of votes wins. The elected regional councillors then choose 42 members of the National Council, with three councillors from each region participating in that process. Regional councillors serve five-year terms. Local authority councils cover 59 local authorities, including municipalities, town councils and village councils. They use proportional representation, so voters choose a party, organisation or association and its list fills the available seats for a five-year term. The ECN is an independent, transparent and impartial election authority. It has five commissioners, each serving five years and no more than two terms. Its Directorate and Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer support election administration. Presidential, National Assembly, regional council and local authority council elections are held under the Electoral Act, 2014 (Act No. 5 of 2014); by-elections can fill vacancies between regular elections. Registration normally requires personal attendance at an ECN registration point, a photograph, a completed form, a declaration, a signature or fingerprint, and proof of identity, age, citizenship and residence. A voter registration card contains a photograph, signature, two-dimensional barcode and the relevant region, constituency or local authority. Residence can be shown with a water, electricity or telephone account or, where accepted, a sworn statement. Registration for presidential and National Assembly elections may take place at any registration point, while regional council registration follows the voter's constituency and local authority registration follows the area of residence. Namibian citizens aged at least 18 may vote, subject to the statutory exclusions for a court-established unsound mind or mental disorder or statutory detention. Imprisonment does not by itself prevent registration for presidential, National Assembly or referendum voting. General registration is normally conducted during a period between two dates set within a ten-year cycle. The ECN can recommend supplementary registration, which is initiated by presidential proclamation. Continuous registration may be suspended before an election. A provisional register is made available for inspection, and objections usually have a seven-working-day period. The core sources do not state a voter-registration fee; any local charge or document requirement should be checked with the ECN before the registration period or election. Nomination dates, polling stations and polling day are set through a proclamation and publication in the Government Gazette. Presidential nominations take place at a public ECN meeting. National Assembly candidates stand through registered party lists, while regional council candidates may stand independently if they have at least 150 registered voter supporters in the constituency. Local authority candidates stand through a party, organisation or association list. For the 2025 elections, supplementary registration ran from 4 to 19 August, the final voter register recorded 1,499,449 voters for 121 constituencies and 752,043 voters for 59 local authorities, and polling was scheduled for 26 November from 07:00 to 21:00. Temporary registration points and foreign missions may be legally available for presidential and National Assembly registration. Authorised or tendered voting may apply to eligible voters who are absent, subject to the Electoral Act. At the polling station, a voter presents the voter registration card and undergoes identity and card authentication, including a check against a prior-vote record and an identification mark or fingerprint procedure. The voter chooses one party or one candidate for the relevant election. Ballot papers show the party or candidate name, symbol and photograph. Electronic voting machines are legally possible but must provide a verifiable paper trail; where electronic and paper records differ, the paper count controls. A spoilt ballot can be replaced under the applicable procedure. A voter who is blind or has a physical limitation may receive assistance from a trusted person aged at least 18. Employers and accommodation providers must allow election participation. Voters have a right to free, fair, credible and non-discriminatory voting without intimidation or coercion. Inducements, obstruction, alcohol and drugs are prohibited at the polling process, and party colours or regalia are not allowed within 500 metres of a polling centre. After polls close, ballot boxes and electronic voting equipment are sealed and counting begins immediately in an open process for agents and accredited observers. Ballots may be rejected for multiple marks, a missing official mark, being blank or being unclear; a clear voting mark is counted. Counting agents may request a recount. Results are announced or displayed locally and move through the Returning Officer, Chief Electoral Officer and ECN Chairperson. The ECN determines the presidential winner, while proportional seat allocation applies to the National Assembly and local authority councils and the highest-vote candidate wins each regional council constituency. Results become binding through the prescribed publication process, including the Government Gazette. The 2024 presidential and National Assembly poll took place from 27 to 30 November 2024, with Gazette publication on 3 January 2025. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah became President. The 96 National Assembly seats were allocated as follows: SWAPO 51, IPC 20, AR 6, LPM 5, PDM 5, UDF 2, APP 1, BCP 1, NEFF 1, NDP 1, NUDO 1, RP 1 and SWANU 1. These results describe that election and do not replace the rules for later elections. A person whose voter registration is refused may appeal to an electoral tribunal. The Electoral Court hears appeals and reviews concerning the electoral tribunal or ECN and alleged breaches of the Electoral Act. Post-election matters must generally be completed no later than seven days before the relevant official takes office. A presidential challenge goes to the Supreme Court as the first and final court, with a decision due within a maximum of 14 days after the hearing. By-elections address vacancies; a regional council by-election is generally held within three months. National elections determine the country's broad political leadership, regional councils represent constituencies and local authority councils deal with direct municipal representation.