Elections Director, Paul Isaak says no individual
should be allowed to assist more than 10 people who are unable to vote on their
own, due to old age or poor eyesight.
Isaak was responding to reports that some individuals
were being allowed to assist a limitless number of people in casting their
votes during the Endola constituency by-election.
He told reporters at the Ongha Senior Secondary
School polling station in the Ohangwena Region on Friday that although the Electoral
Act does not clearly limit the number of voters who may be assisted by one
person at the ballot, it was only logical that such numbers be kept as low as
possible.
“The ECN suggested one person should be limited to
assisting 10 voters only,” Isaak stated.
He argued that this must be done to ensure that
people's votes are not compromised, and that their freedom of choice in the
voting process remains a secret.
He also appealed to political parties contesting the
election not to abuse the provision, by jumping at the opportunity to assist
elderly voters in the hope of garnering more votes for their respective
parties.
Turning to the matter of the by-election at hand,
Isaak pointed out that ECN statistics indicate that less than 12 000 voters are
registered to take part in the Endola constituency contest.
Returning officer for the Endola constituency
by-election, Kerthu Shipoke told Nampa that voters have been turning up in big
numbers at the 23 polling stations at the constituency on Friday.
“This includes the number of voters who are catered
for at our six mobile polling stations,” Shipoke said, adding that people have
shown that they are eager to participate in the elections this year.
The by-election for the Endola constituency became
necessary after the death of former Ohangwena Regional Councillor for that
constituency, Ruth Kepawa Nhinda in August this year. - Nampa
The Namibian
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