Allexer Namundjembo
A total of 9 458 ballots were rejected in the 2025 regional and local authority elections. Of these, 5 946 were rejected in the regional council election and 3 512 in the local authority election.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) completed the release of verified results for all 120 constituencies in the regional council elections over the weekend. Out of 1.49 million registered voters, only 609 013 cast their ballots.
For the 59 local authority elections, 752 043 voters were registered and 272 942 voted.
The ECN said it will review the high number of rejected ballots and use the findings to guide improvements to future elections.
ECN spokesperson De Wet Siluka told the Windhoek Observer that the elections recorded thousands of ballots that could not be counted.
He said the commission cannot yet explain the increase but noted that it will be part of a full post-election review.
“This review is essential to identify procedural or educational gaps and to ensure that future elections maintain integrity while reducing voter errors,” he said.
ECN commissioner Pius Ikwambi explained that a ballot is rejected when officials cannot determine the voter’s intention.
“This can occur when marks on the ballot are unclear, when the official stamp is missing, or when the ballot contains writing or markings that make the voter’s choice ambiguous,” he said.
Once a ballot is ruled invalid, it is stamped “rejected” and removed from the final count.
The number of rejected ballots is higher than in previous cycles.
In the 2020 regional council elections, about 3 200 ballots were rejected, while around 2 900 were rejected in the 2020 local authority elections.
Political analyst Petrus Mvula said the increase points to challenges within the electoral process.
“I would say the high number of rejected ballots in the 2025 elections highlights several underlying issues in Namibia’s electoral process,” he said.
He added that many voters may not fully understand how to mark their ballots correctly or that ballot design and instructions may need improvement.
“This is particularly significant for first-time voters and younger citizens, who may be less familiar with election procedures. Rejected ballots, even in small numbers, can affect public confidence, because citizens may feel their voices are not being counted,” he said.
Mvula noted that the trend indicates the need for targeted voter education, clearer instructions at polling stations and better communication on how to cast a valid vote.
