Rédaction Africa Links 24 with The Africa Links 24
Published on 2024-03-13 08:18:33
Parliament has approved a budget of P65 million for another round of supplementary voter registration to be conducted at designated polling stations across the country. This decision comes after former MP for Mahalapye East, Yandani Boko, had unsuccessfully tabled a motion for the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to conduct voter registration at polling stations rather than at its offices.
During the Committee of Supply Budget presentation on Organisation, Minister of State Kabo Morwaeng proposed a total budget allocation of P284.55 million for the 2024 general elections, with an additional P65 million allocated for the supplementary voter registration. This decision was made in light of the suspension of the general voter registration period, which was originally scheduled for 1st to 30th November 2023, due to a court case brought forth by the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) seeking to observe and record the registration process.
Following the conclusion of the court case on 19th December 2023, the general voter registration exercise was rescheduled from 5th January to 3rd February 2024. During this period, a total of 736,424 Batswana registered as voters in local polling stations and abroad. However, this number represents only 54 percent of the target of 1.3 million registered voters, indicating the need for additional registration efforts.
Currently, there is an ongoing supplementary voter registration period from 26th February to 15th March 2024, which is expected to attract more Batswana to register as voters in preparation for the upcoming general elections. The approval of the budget for this supplementary registration reflects Parliament’s reconsideration of Yandani Boko’s motion and the recognition of the importance of conducting voter registration at designated polling stations.
Overall, the decision to allocate additional funds for supplementary voter registration at polling stations demonstrates a commitment to ensuring a transparent and inclusive electoral process in Botswana. By allowing citizens to register at designated polling stations, the IEC aims to increase voter participation and ensure that all eligible individuals have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming elections.
Read the original article on Gazette News
