
Electoral Act, 2014
Regulations relating to Use of Voting Machines at Elections: Electoral Act, 1992
Government Notice 117 of 2014
- Published in Government Gazette 5524 on 1 August 2014
- Commenced on 1 August 2014
- [This is the version of this document at 15 November 2017.]
- [Note: The version of this legislation as at 15 November 2017 was revised and consolidated by the Legal Assistance Centre and the Government of the Republic of Namibia. All subsequent amendments have been researched and applied by Laws.Africa for NamibLII.]
as amended by
Government Notice 209 of 2014 (GG 5593)
came into force on date of publication: 9 November 1994
Part 1 – INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS
1. Definitions
In these regulations a word or an expression to which a meaning has been given in the Act has that meaning, and unless the context otherwise indicates-“ballot button” means a ballot button on the ballot section of the control unit which enables a voter to cast his or her vote after a ballot is released;“ballot paper” means a ballot paper referred to section 81(2) of the Act which is inserted and displayed on the ballot paper screen;“ballot unit” means a unit of the voting machine which consists of-(a)an interconnecting cable;(b)ballot paper screen;(c)fifteen candidate buttons and one register button;(d)fifteen candidate lamps and one register lamp;(e)slide switch window; and(f)a ready lamp;“ballot paper screen” means a screen on the ballot unit where a ballot paper is inserted and displayed on the ballot unit;“ballot section” means a section of the control unit which consists of a ballot button and a total button;“candidate button” means a green button on the ballot unit of the voting machine which a voter presses to select a candidate or party of his or her choice;“candidate lamp” means a lamp located between the ballot paper screen and candidate button and which lamp glows red when a voter presses the candidate button to select a candidate or party of his or her choice;“candidate set button” means a black button on the candidate set section of the control unit which sets the number of candidates or parties contesting in an election;“candidate set section” means a section on the control unit of the voting machine which consists of the power pack compartment and candidate set button;“Commission office” means a place designated by the Commission as a Commission office for the purposes of these regulations;“clear button” means a clear button located on the result section of the control unit which clears the voting machine to show that there are no votes recorded in the voting machine;“close button” means a close button on the result section of the control unit which closes the poll when pressed;“control unit” means a control unit of the voting machine that is operated by a polling officer which enables a voter to cast his or her vote and consists of a-(a)display section;(b)candidate set section;(c)result section; and(d)ballot section;“display panel” means a display panel on the display section of the control unit that displays-(a)the serial number of the control unit of the voting machine;(b)the number of candidates or parties contesting in an election;(c)the status of the battery of the voting machine;(d)the number of elections;(e)the results and date of the poll;(f)the starting time and date of the poll;(g)the ending time and date of the poll; and(h)any other information that may be displayed on the display panel;“display section” means the display section on the control unit of the voting machine which consists of a display panel, “on lamp” and “busy lamp”;“manufacturer” means Bharat Electronics Limited, an Indian company incorporated in terms of the laws of India;“power pack compartment” means the power pack compartment situated on the candidate set section where the battery is situated.[The definition of “power pack compartment” is inserted by GN 209/2014. It should end with a semicolon rather than a full stop.]“register button” means a red register button on the ballot unit of the voting machine which a voter presses to cast his or her vote after selecting his or her candidate or party by pressing the candidate button corresponding to the candidate or party of his or her choice;“register lamp” means lamp on the left side of the register button that glows red when a voter presses the register button to cast his or her vote;“result section” means a section on the control unit of the voting machine which consists of a close button, result button, print button and clear button;“result button” means the result button on the result section of the control unit which if pressed shows the total number of votes of a candidate or party in respect of the polling station in which a voting machine has been used;“tabulator” means a portable instrument designed by the manufacturer for the counting of the results of votes recorded on the control units of voting machines;“the Act” means the Electoral Act, 1992 (Act No. 24 of 1992);[The Electoral Act 24 of 1992 has been replaced by the Electoral Act 5 of 2014.]“total button” means the total button on the ballot section of the control unit, which when pressed, shows-(a)the battery status;(b)current time and date;(c)the number of candidates or parties; and(d)the total number of votes recorded;“voting machine” means a portable voting machine designed by the manufacturer for registering, recording and counting of votes during an election.Part 2 – PREPARATION OF VOTING MACHINES BEFORE ELECTION
2. Voting machines
A voting machine consists of a-3. Notification of political parties
4. Checking of voting machines and tabulators at Commission office
5. Preparation of ballot unit by returning officer at Commission office
6. Preparation of control unit by returning officer at Commission office
7. Preparation of voting machine by presiding officer at polling station
8. Clearing of voting machine at polling station
9. Pre-poll test of voting machine at polling station
Part 3 – MANNER OF REGISTERING AND RECORDING OF VOTES
10. Voting procedure at polling stations
11. Procedure at mobile polling stations
12. Faulty or capacity of control unit of voting machine
12A. Replacement of battery
Part 4 – CLOSING OF POLL PROCEDURE
13. Closing of poll at polling stations
Part 5 – COUNTING OF VOTES AT POLLING STATIONS
14. Procedure for counting votes at polling stations
Part 6 – COLLATION PROCEDURE AT CONSTITUENCY CENTRE
15. Receipt of sealed voting machines
A returning officer must take charge of all voting machines and other returns referred to in regulation 14(2) and verify the correctness of all the returns and examine whether the seals of the voting machines are in order in the presence of the election agents.16. Results of elections
17. Verification of records by election agents
Part 7 – SAFE-CUSTODY, TRANSPORTATION AND SAFEKEEPING OF VOTING MACHINES AND TABULATORS
18. Safe-keeping of voting machines and tabulators before commencement of polls
19. Safe-keeping of voting machines and tabulators before, during and after polls in regions
Part 8
20. Voting machine or tabulator user manual
History of this document
15 November 2017 this version
Consolidation
01 August 2014
Commenced