More than 22 000 persons with disabilities registered to vote

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) says it has registered 22 245 persons with disabilities for the regional councils and local authorities elections.

This was announced on Wednesday by ECN director of operations Zenia Klazen during a media engagement in preparation for the upcoming elections.

Klazen also announced that the final results of the election will be announced on 29 to 30 November or earlier, once all vote counts have been verified.

The ECN’s deputy director for voter and civic education, Marilyn Kazetjikuria, said preference will be given to persons with disabilities at all polling stations.

“It must be understood that while preference will be given to the elderly, pregnant women and persons with disability, it will be done on a zigzag basis,” she said.

She said people will be given opportunities to cast their votes by taking one person from each queue.

She said the ECN has also made provision for Braille ballot papers for visually impaired persons.

She added that the Braille ballot papers are currently being finalised by the National Federation of People with Disability in Namibia, which is working in collaboration with the commission.

Kazetjikuria also revealed that the Electoral Act makes provision for voters who need assistance to cast their votes, but a person assisting voters is limited to 10 people only.

“Let’s say you live with old people or people who are not able to cast votes on their own. You can accompany them to go cast their votes provided that the presiding officer has been notified who would then use his discretion,” she said.

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