Details

08h00 PART I: BACKGROUND

08h30 – 09h00Recent History of Voting in SADC & Africa

History of Voting in Namibia

The Three Phases of an Election Cycle

PART II: THE PRE-ELECTION PHASE

09h00 – 09h30The Electoral Commission of Namibia

The Commission: Composition, Appointment and Functions;

The Secretariat of the Commission: Directorate of Elections

09h30 – 10h00The Legal Framework for Elections in Namibia

Constitutional Provisions; Electoral Act; Regional Councils Act;

Local Authorities Act; Delimitation; Electoral Systems)

10h00 – 10h30Political Parties, Organisations and Associations

Registration; List of Competitors; Roles; Rights and Responsibilities; Code of Conduct; Financing; Use of Public Resources

11h00 – 11h30Voter Registration and Voters Registers

Qualifications; National Voters Register; Local Authorities Voters Register

Ms C Engelbrecht

11h30 – 12h30Nomination of Candidates

Party List System; Constituency Representatives; Independent Candidates; Qualifications; Procedures

12h30 – 13h00Civic & Voter Education and Information

Roles of different Players – ECN; Parties/Organisations; Ministries; Media

PART III: ELECTION PHASE

14h30 – 15h15Conduct of Elections

Polling Stations; Equipment of Stations; Election Materials; Election Officials; Election Agents; Election Observers; Secrecy of the Ballot

15h15 – 15h30General and Special Voting Arrangements

Ordinary Votes; Tendered Votes; Special Votes; Voting Abroad and at Sea; Assisted Voting; Braille Ballot Papers; Prisoners, Elderly and Hospitalised Voters; New Electoral Amendment Act

15h30 – 16h00Polling and Counting Processes

Hours; Voting Station Layout; Steps in the Voting Process; Authorised Persons; Procedure at closing of Poll; Counting Steps; Rejection of Ballot; Announcement of Results

16h30 – 17h00Safety and Security

ECN and Namibian Police; Other Security Forces; Conflict Management

17h00 – 17h30Election Observers

Legal requirements; Complementary roles of Election Observers and Party Agents

PART IV: POST-ELECTION PHASE

17h30 – 18h00Post-Election Review

Acceptance of Results; Election Disputes; Election Applications

What constitutes “free, fair and credible Elections”?

What the Law says

20h00 – 22h00DISCUSSIONS

Lessons Learnt; Managing Challenges; Questions & Answers

Presenters and Participants