Let the voting begin

THE stage is set for tomorrow’s polls which some believe will yield the most dramatic results since 1989.

Polling stations are scheduled to open at 07h00, with the first results expected to be released by Saturday morning. “The Electoral Commission has done its part to educate all the voters.It is now up to political parties and the voters to do their part,” Director of Elections, Phillemon Kanime, said yesterday.Kanime, however, expressed fears of a possible low turnout.”The Electoral Commission is concerned about the low voter turnout recorded during the past elections.This year, we want to turn the tables around.We want to see more and more voters making their cross at the polls,” he said at the launch of a new website for the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).He said democracy could only be strengthened and consolidated through voting.ECN Chairman Victor Tonchi said it was quite exciting this year because four elections would take place.”In less than 50 hours from now, Namibians living in 44 proclaimed local authorities will go to the polls to take part in what will go down in history as Namibia’s third local authority elections,” he said.He said the ECN was “fully prepared and ready to deliver” with 1 500 trained polling officials eagerly awaiting to serve the nation.Some 363 547 voters are registered to take part in the Local Authority elections.”The Electoral Commission has done its part to educate all the voters.It is now up to political parties and the voters to do their part,” Director of Elections, Phillemon Kanime, said yesterday.Kanime, however, expressed fears of a possible low turnout.”The Electoral Commission is concerned about the low voter turnout recorded during the past elections.This year, we want to turn the tables around.We want to see more and more voters making their cross at the polls,” he said at the launch of a new website for the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).He said democracy could only be strengthened and consolidated through voting.ECN Chairman Victor Tonchi said it was quite exciting this year because four elections would take place.”In less than 50 hours from now, Namibians living in 44 proclaimed local authorities will go to the polls to take part in what will go down in history as Namibia’s third local authority elections,” he said.He said the ECN was “fully prepared and ready to deliver” with 1 500 trained polling officials eagerly awaiting to serve the nation.Some 363 547 voters are registered to take part in the Local Authority elections.