Africa-Press – Botswana. At least 1.7 million Batswana will be eligible to register and vote during the 2024 general elections.
Hence the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) expects to register significant numbers during the voter registration period scheduled for November 1 to 30.
In an interview on preparations for voter registration on Wednesday, IEC chief public relations officer, Mr Osupile Maroba said Department of Civil and National Registration records indicated that there would be more than 1.7 million eligible citizens by the time elections were held in 2024.
“IEC will do what it can within its capacity to register majority of the eligible population,” he said.
He said after the November voters’ registration exercise, a supplementary excercise may be conducted to cater for eligible voters who would have attained 18 years after the end of the general voter registration process, as well as those who might have missed registration due to other reasons.
With regard to the availability of the voters roll for public inspection after the registration process, Mr Maroba said the law required that as soon as practicable, the secretary shall prepare a voters roll for inspection by the public.
“This happens after the close of the registration and entry of data in the Election Management System,” he said.
He cautioned that application for registering as a voter may be declined if one brought an expired identity card or used any other form of identity than Omang.
Or when such applicant had not yet attained 18 years and is not a citizen of Botswana or having registered where they had no principal residence.
Nonetheless, he said the law allowed an applicant to appeal their rejection.
Regarding the general voters registration, he said preparation were ongoing and on schedule.
He said recruitment of registration clerks was being finalised and the clerks would later be trained to equip them for the task ahead.
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