Africa-Press – Namibia. Over 800 000 women have registered to vote in the upcoming regional and local authority elections set for 26 November 2025.
The Electoral Commission of Namibia’s (ECN) final voters register shows that out of 1 499 449 registered voters, 808 419 are women and 691 080 are men.
This means women make up just over 54% of all registered voters.
ECN chief electoral and referenda officer Peter Shaama said women have continued to show strong commitment to civic participation.
“Their dominance on the voters’ roll is not just a statistic; it’s a reflection of their leadership in community affairs and their determination to influence decisions that affect their lives and families. The commission remains committed to free, fair, transparent and credible elections,” he said.
He urged all stakeholders to support inclusive voter education that focuses on women and youth to ensure meaningful participation in the 2025 elections.
The register also records 643 117 youth voters and 22 245 persons with disabilities.
These figures followed the supplementary registration of voters held from 4 to 19 August 2025.
ECN said the automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS) was used to ensure each voter appears only once on the roll.
Women’s dominance on the register continues a national trend seen in past elections.
Afrobarometer’s latest survey found that 72% of Namibians believe women should have the same chance as men to be elected to political office.
The survey noted that women and younger voters were more likely to hold that view.
Civil society groups say the growing number of women voters should be matched by more representation among candidates and elected officials.
Sister Namibia, a feminist organisation, has consistently advocated for a balanced gender representation in political leadership.
In the 2024 presidential and National Assembly elections, women also made up the majority of registered voters.
In this upcoming election, special voting for polling officials and police officers working outside their constituencies will take place on 24 November, two days before the main polling day.
Shaama urged political parties, civic organisations and the media to increase voter education efforts and promote informed participation.
“Our democracy thrives when all citizens are informed and involved. Women have shown themselves to be a powerful force in the democratic process, and we look forward to their continued participation at the polls,” he said.
The elections will decide leadership in 121 constituencies and 59 local authority councils.
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