The aim of the commission is to oversee all Namibian electoral activities starting from voter registration and political party registration, to the setting and monitoring of elections, counting of ballots and making results available.
Candidates are shortlisted by a committee consisting of the Chief Justice, a lawyer suggested by the Law Society and a representative from the Office of the Ombudsman.
The president of Namibia then appoints the ECN from this shortlist for a five-year term.
[2] The current[update] Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer (CERO) is Petrus Shaama since September 2023.
The chairperson of ECN is Dr. Elsie Tuleingepo Nghikembua since September 2021.