Politics and Society
Namibia holds Africa’s first e-vote
Namibia is making history today as it chooses a new president through Africa’s first electronic elections
The ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) is expected to win the poll and Prime Minister Hage Geingob to become president, reports the BBC.
Opposition parties had launched an 11th-hour challenge to the use of the Indian-made e-voting machines, claiming the lack of a paper trail could open the door to vote rigging.
But the Windhoek High Court dismissed the application on Wednesday, leaving the door open for the election to go ahead as planned.
About 1.2 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots at nearly 4,000 polling stations across the vast country.
A rendering of what the electronic format will look like. Photo: Namibia Electoral Commission
The election is expected to be won by Prime Minister Hage Geingob in a sixth straight victory for the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) party.
About 1 200 fixed and 2 700 mobile polling stations are set to close at 9pm. Because they are linked to an electronic system – it will be Africa’s first e-vote – preliminary results are expected a few hours after the polls close.
