Elections & campaignsCourts & justice
Namibia's election commission reported ballot shortages at 36 polling stations in 2024; voting was extended and the Supreme Court later upheld the extension
Confidence: Corroborated · 4 sourcesNamibia · Oct 12, 2026
Subject of this story
Electoral Commission of Namibia
Also named
Oversight
Supreme Court of Namibia
Advocate
Independent Patriots for Change (IPC)
Landless People's Movement (LPM)
What happened
During Namibia's November 27, 2024 general election, the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) said ballot-paper shortages hit 36 polling stations because ballot boxes' capacity was exceeded or mobile teams could not reach them in time. Voting was extended to November 29 and 30 by then-president Nangolo Mbumba. The IPC and Landless People's Movement challenged the results; on February 28, 2025 the Supreme Court dismissed the presidential challenge, ruling the extension lawful, and on March 6, 2025 the parties withdrew their National Assembly challenge in the Electoral Court.
By the numbers (1)
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
Figures
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The Electoral Commission of Namibia's chairperson said ballot paper shortages were experienced at 36 polling stations in the 2024 election.
1 source
- The Namibian
ballot paper shortages were experienced at 36 polling stations
Sources (4)
The NamibianECN chairperson Elsie Nghikembua said 'ballot paper shortages were experienced at 36 polling stations, because the capacity of ballot boxes were exceeded or mobile teams could not reach the specific polling stations in time.'
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (via Yahoo News)Chief Justice Peter Shivute ruled that the extension was lawful and the challenge to the presidential outcome 'fails.'
The NamibianIPC and LPM withdrew their Electoral Court challenge a week after the Supreme Court dismissed the presidential case.
AFP (via The Standard, Kenya)The court concluded that the presidential proclamation to extend voting was lawful, Chief Justice Peter Shivute said, reading aloud a summary of the ruling.
Response
Electoral Commission of Namibia
Statement given
Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.