BEL-made EVMs Star in Namibia Elections

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) conducted the Presidential and National elections in Namibia on November 28 and 29, 2014, using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) made by Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). A total of 5,850 customised EVMs were supplied by BEL to ECN in three instalments along with battery packs, tabulators and printers. Namibia became the first African nation to embrace electronic voting and the event was closely watched by the members of the African Union (AU) and the South African Development Council (SADC) apart from the global media.

Teams of engineers and technicians from BEL visited Namibia on three separate occasions in 2014 - to provide support during the by-elections, to carry out checking of the machines and to provide support during the general elections. Subsequent to the successful completion of the polls, the results were formally announced by ECN on December 1, 2014, at a function attended by the out-going and in-coming Presidents and other dignitaries.

To provide support during the general elections, a team of 30 engineers / technicians led by Mr Krishna Kumar P, Additional General Manager, BEL, was sent to Namibia on November 21. The team members were deployed in the 14 regions of the country during the pre-poll, polling and counting phases. After completion of counting using the tabulators, the team members returned to Windhoek on November 30.

ECN has mailed a letter of appreciation to BEL for the timely delivery of EVMs and the technical support provided at all stages. SADC has congratulated Namibia for becoming the first African nation to use electronic voting, whose lead, it hoped, would be emulated by other nations in Africa and beyond.