THOUSANDS of Namibians residing in foreign countries as well as sea-going workers will be able to vote in national elections if the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) gets its way.
ECN Director Philemon Kanime told The Namibian yesterday that an amendment to the Electoral Act had already been proposed to provide for all eligible voters living outside the country and sea-going workers to be registered to participate in future elections. “I understand it [the amendment] has already gone through Cabinet, it will soon be presented to Parliament for approval,” Kanime said.After the Local Authorities elections in May a number of organisations, including some political parties and workers’ unions, complained bitterly that Namibians residing outside the country and those who find themselves restricted by their work, were being denied their fundamental right to vote.The supplementary registration of voters is slated to take place from September 20 to October 3.Presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on November 15 and 16, followed by Regional council polls on November 29 and… The ECN is set to finalise all preparations pertaining to the nominations of candidates for the upcoming elections.According to Kanime, a proclamation to this effect has been drafted and will be forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office for scrutiny later this week before the President signs and gazettes… He said that after the proclamation has been gazetted the ECN will be able to announce the dates for the nomination of candidates, as well as declare the campaign officially open.”I understand it [the amendment] has already gone through Cabinet, it will soon be presented to Parliament for approval,” Kanime said.After the Local Authorities elections in May a number of organisations, including some political parties and workers’ unions, complained bitterly that Namibians residing outside the country and those who find themselves restricted by their work, were being denied their fundamental right to vote.The supplementary registration of voters is slated to take place from September 20 to October 3.Presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on November 15 and 16, followed by Regional council polls on November 29 and… The ECN is set to finalise all preparations pertaining to the nominations of candidates for the upcoming elections.According to Kanime, a proclamation to this effect has been drafted and will be forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office for scrutiny later this week before the President signs and gazettes… He said that after the proclamation has been gazetted the ECN will be able to announce the dates for the nomination of candidates, as well as declare the campaign officially open.
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