2020 Namibian local and regional elections

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2020 Namibian local and regional elections
Flag of Namibia.svg
  2015 25 November 2020 (2020-11-25)2025 
Registered1,375,640 [1]
Turnout526,337 (38.26%)
 
Party SWAPO IPC LPM
popular vote293,62689,03035,184
Percentage56.55%17.14%6.77%

 
Party PDM NUDO Other parties
popular vote35,01012,25850,296
Percentage6.74%2.36%9.68%

Wahlkreise Regionalratswahlen Namibia 2020.svg
Winning party by constituency.

Local and regional elections were held in Namibia on 25 November 2020 to elect new local and regional councils. [2] The previous round of elections was held in 2015 and won by the ruling SWAPO party.

Contents

Electoral system

Elections for regional councils are held using the first-past-the-post electoral system. Voters in each constituency elect one councillor to represent them on their regional council. Local authority councillors are elected by a system of proportional representation. Local authority candidate lists have affirmative action requirements for women. [3]

Election process

Although Namibia has 1.35 million registered voters, only about 370,000 have voter cards that specify their area of residence, a requirement to elect local and regional councillors. [4] A supplementary voter registration, also for citizens that have turned 18 and those who have relocated, was conducted between 7 and 15 September 2020, and yielded 188,000 registrations. [2]

In April 2020, the Electoral Commission of Namibia announced that the national lockdown on account of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country would not affect the election date. [5] The elections will be conducted using paper ballots after the Supreme Court of Namibia ruled in February 2020 that without a paper trail, usage of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in elections contravenes the Electoral Act of 2014. [6]

Results

Regional council elections

Winning party by constituency (As of 28 November 2020)

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PDM
LPM
IPC
NUDO
SWAPO
UDF
Independent candidates
Outstanding constituency Wahlkreise Regionalratswahlen Namibia 2020.svg
Winning party by constituency (As of 28 November 2020)
  PDM
  LPM
  IPC
  NUDO
  SWAPO
  UDF
  Independent candidates
  Outstanding constituency

For every of the 121 constituencies of Namibia one individual is elected to serve as constituency councillor and to represent their constituency in the respective regional council. [3] The regional councils in turn select 3 representatives each to serve in the National Council.

While the ruling SWAPO party nominated candidates in all constituencies and for all local councils, four constituencies had no opposition candidates at all: Mankumpi, Nkurenkuru, Tondoro and Uuvudhiya. There the SWAPO candidate was declared the winner. [7] In the Mariental Rural constituency "serious procedural errors" were discovered. No initial result were announced, [8] and the electoral court ordered a re-run. [9] The re-run was conducted on 26 February 2021. [10]

PartyAbbreviationSeats
SWAPO SWAPO88 Decrease2.svg
Landless People’s Movement LPM12 Increase2.svg
Independent Patriots for Change IPC5 Increase2.svg
National Unity Democratic Organisation NUDO4 Increase2.svg
Popular Democratic Movement PDM4 Increase2.svg
United Democratic Front of Namibia UDF4 Increase2.svg
Independent candidates IC4 Increase2.svg
Total seats121
Total (voter turnout 38,26%)
Source: [11]

Local authority elections

Local elections determine the population of the village, town, and city councils and have a direct influence on who will become mayor, as this position is elected among all councillors. Contrary to the regional elections, local elections in Namibia are determined by party, not by individual. [3] There are 57 local authorities for which elections were conducted.

Results for the local authority elections were announced on 29 November. [12] For Okakarara, Otavi and Katima Mulilo the results were yet unavailable due to a necessary review. In all three towns it was alleged that the formula for allocating seats was not correctly applied. In the local authority elections for Aroab, Koës and Stampriet "serious procedural errors" were discovered. Voters were handed the wrong ballot papers, meant for a different local authority or for a different election, respectively. No initial result were announced, and the electoral court ordered a re-run. [9] The re-run was conducted on 26 February 2021. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keetmanshoop Rural</span> Electoral constituency in Namibia

Keetmanshoop Rural is an electoral constituency in the ǁKaras Region of Namibia. It covers an area of 37,922 km2 (14,642 sq mi) and contains the Krönlein suburb of Keetmanshoop and the villages of Koës and Aroab, the settlements of Seeheim and Klein Karas, as well as several farming communities in the area. Keetmanshoop Rural had a population of 7,219 in 2011, up from 6,399 in 2001. As of 2020 the constituency had 6,398 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Namibia</span>

Elections in Namibia determine who holds public political offices in the country. Namibia is a semi-presidential representative democratic republic. It runs direct elections every five years for the position of the president and seats in the National Assembly, and every six years for the Regional Councils and the distribution of seats in local authorities. The National Council is elected indirectly by the constituency councillors of Namibia's 14 regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mariental Rural</span> Electoral constituency in the Hardap region of central Namibia

Mariental Rural is a constituency in the Hardap region of Namibia. Its constituency office is situated in Stampriet. It had a population of 15,308 in 2011, up from 13,946 in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aroab</span> Village in the ǁKaras Region of Namibia

Aroab is a village in the ǁKaras Region of southern Namibia. It had 2,651 inhabitants in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stampriet</span> Village in Hardap Region, Namibia

Stampriet is a village in the Hardap Region of central Namibia. It had 3,388 inhabitants in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Okatyali Constituency</span> Electoral constituency in the Oshana region of northern Namibia

Okatyali Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Oshana Region of Namibia. It had 2,815 inhabitants in 2004 and 2,051 registered voters in 2020. Its district capital is the settlement of Okatyali.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ompundja Constituency</span> Electoral constituency in the Oshana region of northern Namibia

Ompundja Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Oshana Region of Namibia. It had 4,423 inhabitants in 2004 and 2,520 registered voters in 2020. Its constituency office is situated in Enguwantale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uuvudhiya Constituency</span> Electoral constituency in Oshana region, Namibia

Uuvudhiya Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Oshana Region of Namibia. The constituency office is situated in Engombe. In 2004 Uuvudhiya had 4,357 inhabitants and 2,869 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omuntele Constituency</span> Electoral constituency in the Oshikoto region of northern Namibia

Omuntele Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Oshikoto Region on the northern part of Namibia. It had 21,884 inhabitants in 2004 and 9,854 registered voters in 2020. The district capital is the settlement of Omuntele.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koës</span> Village in ǁKaras Region, Namibia

Koës is a village in the ǁKaras Region of south-eastern Namibia. It had 2,264 inhabitants in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nehale IyaMpingana Constituency</span> Electoral constituency in the Oshikoto region of northern Namibia

Nehale IyaMpingana Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Oshikoto Region of Namibia, named after Nehale lya Mpingana, one of Namibia's National Heroes. It was created in August 2013, following a recommendation of the Fourth Delimitation Commission of Namibia, and in preparation of the 2014 general election. The administrative centre of Nehale lyaMpingana is the settlement of Okoloti. As of 2020 the constituency had 5,879 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judea Lyaboloma Constituency</span> Electoral constituency in Namibias Zambezi region

Judea Lyaboloma is a constituency in Namibia's Zambezi Region. The administrative centre of the constituency is the settlement of Sangwali, situated 130 kilometres south-west of the region's capital, Katima Mulilo. It has a population of 8,738 and covers an area of 1,723 km², resulting in a population density of approximately 5.071/km².

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aranos Constituency</span> Electoral constituency in Namibia

Aranos Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Hardap Region of Namibia. It was created in August 2013, following a recommendation of the Fourth Delimitation Commission of Namibia, and in preparation of the 2014 general election. Aranos constituency was formed from the eastern part of Mariental Rural constituency. The administrative centre of Aranos Constituency is the town of Aranos. As of 2020 the constituency had 5,604 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mankumpi Constituency</span> Electoral constituency in the Kavango West region of northern Namibia

Mankumpi Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Kavango West Region of Namibia. The administrative centre is the village of Satotwa. Mankumpi was created in August 2013, following a recommendation of the Fourth Delimitation Commission of Namibia, and in preparation of the 2014 general election. It was formed from the south-eastern part of the former Kahenge Constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Namibian local and regional elections</span> Elections in Namibia

Namibia held elections for their local and regional councils on 27 November 2015. Ballots were cast using electronic voting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ncuncuni Constituency</span> Electoral constituency in the Kavango West region of northern Namibia

Ncuncuni is a constituency in the Kavango West region of Namibia. It is located west of Rundu, one of Namibia's largest cities. It had a population of 38,281 in 2011, up from 26,623 in 2001. As of 2020 the constituency had 4,554 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opuwo Urban</span> Electoral constituency in the Kunene region of north-western Namibia

Opuwo Urban is a constituency in the Kunene Region of Namibia. It comprises the townlands of Opuwo, which is also its administrative centre. As of 2020, it has 10,590 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Namibian general election</span>

General elections were held in Namibia on 27 November 2019. Ballots were cast using electronic voting. A total of eleven candidates ran for the presidency and fifteen political parties contested the National Assembly elections.

Events in the year 2015 in Namibia.

References

  1. Elections
  2. 1 2 Nakale, Albertina (23 September 2020). "188 000 register during supplementary process". New Era . p. 1.
  3. 1 2 3 "Government Elections: National, Regional, Local" (PDF). www.lac.org.na. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  4. Iikela, Sakeus (7 September 2020). "ECN all set for supplementary voter's registration". The Namibian . p. 3.
  5. Iikela, Sakeus (29 April 2020). "Regional elections not deterred by lockdown". The Namibian. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  6. Iikela, Sakeus (23 September 2020). "ECN undecided on discarded EVMs". The Namibian . p. 1.
  7. Nakale, Albertina (21 October 2020). "Uncontested constituencies reduced to 4 from 26". New Era . p. 1.
  8. "2020 Local Authority Elections Results and Allocation of Seats" (PDF). Electoral Commission of Namibia. 29 November 2020. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  9. 1 2 Iikela, Sakeus (4 December 2020). "ECN files to nullify Aroab, Koës elections". The Namibian . p. 3.
  10. 1 2 "Final Results for the Rerun Elections for the Aroab, Koës, Stampriet Local Authorities and Mariental Rural Constituency" (PDF). Electoral Commission of Namibia. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.[ permanent dead link ]
  11. "Publication of results and particulars in respect of general elections for Regional Councils: Electoral Act, 2014" (pdf). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. No. 7654. Government of Namibia. 8 October 2021. pp. 1–23.
  12. "Publication of results and particulars in respect of general elections for local authority councils: Electoral Act, 2014" (pdf). Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia. No. 7497. Government of Namibia. 1 April 2021. pp. 1–21.