Namibia will vote on November 27 to elect the president and members of the National Assembly.

The announcement was made by Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni.

Other key dates announced were dates for general voter registration, which will be from June 3 to August 1.

The nomination of independent candidates will commence on October 14, the nomination of political parties on October 16, and seafarers and Namibians abroad will vote on November 13.

Launching the electoral calendar, Minister Uutoni touched on past elections, saying the trend of low voter turnout was worrisome and a major concern.

He cautioned that, if not addressed, this trend could threaten democracy in Namibia.

In the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections, only 60.7% of registered voters turned up to cast their votes.

Therefore, the minister said democracies need to pay attention to the education of citizens and the timely registration of voters.

"An informed voter is a strong citizen. Hence, a key dimension that forms an integral part of securing meaningful voter participation and the promotion of a fully-fledged electoral democracy is civic and voter education. Centrally, civic and voter education ensures the readiness, willingness, and ability of voters to participate in electoral activities."

The ECN has also adopted a Civic and Voter Education Awareness Strategy in the build-up to the 2024 General Registration of Voters and National Elections.

Erastus Uutoni applauded the adoption of the strategy.

"The campaign will focus on raising awareness about the significance of participating in elections and voting, as well as fostering a sense of civic duty and engagement among citizens. It will ensure sensitising understanding about the importance of voter registration among eligible citizens and encourage individuals who meet the voting eligibility requirements to register and participate in the electoral process."