Senior citizens were the dominant demographic at the start of voting in the Kamanjab Constituency by-elections today. 

While voter turnout in more remote areas was hampered by inaccessible roads in flooded areas, those who turned up called for tangible development in their areas.

Voters that nbc News spoke to emphasised the urgent need for job opportunities for young people, as well as better sports facilities and equal treatment of all members of the community.

A number of elderly voters expressed a strong desire for the elected candidate to prioritise these pressing issues and ensure that their voices are acknowledged and acted upon.

Notably absent from the voting process were young people from the village.

Three parties are contesting the Kamanjab Constituency seat. 

They are the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), represented by Dansiekie Ganaseb; the Swapo Party, with candidate Nikodemus Amutenya; and the United Democratic Front (UDF), represented by Buruxa Namaseb.

According to data revealed by ECN's Supervisor for Registration at Kamanjab Constituency, Kizzy Dudu-Murorua, by early evening, only 5 of the 18 polling stations were reachable, with 1,258 votes cast at those since morning. 

In the Zambezi Region, voting likewise took place in the flood-prone Kabbe South Constituency, with low voter turnout also reported during the day.

This remained the case at various polling stations, as communities grappled with ongoing floods.

At Kasika, presiding officer Ntuka Matengu and his team were deployed via helicopter on Monday. 

Likewise, Impalila Island, along with villages like Kasika, was only accessible by boat or helicopter due to flooded roads. 

Polling Stations at Impalila in the Kabbe South Constituency opened at exactly 07:00. 

Though, at Impalila Island Combined School polling station, only ten people had cast their ballots by mid-morning.

Polling officials expressed hope that more residents would attend the polls by closing time at 21:00 tonight.

Electoral officials and materials were transported to the flood-affected stations on Sunday via helicopter, with support from the Ministry of Defence. 

However, the collation centre in Nakabolelwa only expects the results from those flood-struck areas to arrive by Wednesday morning. 

In Kabbe South, 1,355 voters have cast their votes at 18 polling stations thus far.  A total of 3,509 registered voters were expected. 

The 20 polling stations in Grootfontein reported low voter turnout.

Some senior citizens, including the mother of the Deputy Prime Minister Natangue Ithete, were among the first people to cast their vote at the Omulunga Hall A polling station. 

Omulunga Hall polling station received a notable number of voters, while Otjiwanda Secondary School polling station's turnout was low.

Presiding officer Ignatius Kangotue was not at liberty to furnish an exact number of voters at the Otjiwanda School polling station.

Otjiwarongo Returning Officer Melody Muesee reported that some of the seven mobile teams serving the rural areas of the constituency had the poorest turnout at the opening of polls.

By lunchtime, Muesee says over 1,000 individuals had voted in the constituency.

No long queues were observed in the morning, but voters who spoke to nbc News said they had been seated at the entrance gates from as early as 02:30 in the Ombili informal settlement.

Despite the challenges, election officials stationed at the various locations reported no major logistical issues. 

Political party agents for the Swapo Party and the Independent Patriots for Change have expressed satisfaction with the process so far.