Africa-Press – Eswatini. With a day to go before the primary elections, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) is expecting a free-flowing and much quicker process.
Also attributing to this is that special treatment would be given to the elderly, people with disabilities and expectant mothers.
Added to the list are people with albinism.
The commission further stated that the number of polling stations have also been increased, adding that transport will be provided.
With over 583 000 registered voters, the commission said it’s all systems ahead following the special voting on Tuesday, where they experienced limited challenges, which have been addressed.
One of the changes is that the commission has produced distinct ballot papers for each polling station.
EBC Communications Officer, Mbonisi Bhembe, said at this level, each chiefdom/polling station would be given an opportunity to elect candidates for indvuna yenkhundla and Member of Parliament.
He said before the Elections Act was amended, candidates were elected for all the offices (bucopho, indvuna yenkhundla and Member of Parliament) but the election of bucopho would now take place during the secondary elections.
The amendment, according to Bhembe, is expected to make the counting process quicker tomorrow. “We hope that this time around everything will run smoothly and be able to finish counting votes much quicker because the bucopho category will not be contested for on Saturday (tomorrow).
What will also make things easier iss that the polling stations have been increased,” said Bhembe. He gave an example that where there was one nomination centre, one may now find more than five polling stations.
“We are not expecting to pull an all-nighter but we are fully prepared for whatever situation, which may come up and we are hoping for the best,” he said.
According to Bhembe, what will also make things easier was the amendment that allows for votes to be counted at polling stations and then be consolidated with other votes at a central place.
The EBC also urged the nation to familiarise themselves with the new changes as they proceed into the next stage of the electoral process. After the primary elections, the EBC is expected to meet with all winners in the primaries, where the candidates would be briefed on a number of topics including campaigning.
Also, as a requirement according to the Elections Expenses Act , 2013 (Section 4 (1)), candidates are expected to disclose the amount of funds which they expect to receive and spend as elections expenses at least three days after primary elections.
Each candidate will be provided with a declaration form to fill and submit to the registrar.
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