Botswana Independent Electoral Commission extends voters registration
Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) - The Botswana Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has extended the country’s voter registration from 15 April to 28 April, 2019, due to low turn up of voters for the 2019 national election.
A press release from the office of the Independent Electoral Commission, quoting Section 8 (1) of the constitution of Botswana, said the new date had been set for the extension of the voter registration exercise in all the country’s 57 constituencies.
The supplementary poll will be conducted at all the 2260 local polling stations and the 36 external polling stations, the statement said, adding that polling stations will open from early morning at 0800 hours and close at 1800 hours during the week days and from 0900 hours to 1600 hours during the weekends and public holidays.
Requirements for the voting registration remain the same, the release stated.
A prospective voter should have attained the age of 18 years or above with a valid Botswana national identity card. The voter should register in a polling district where they are permanently resident.
There are reports of low turnout of voters who registered for the oncoming 2019 national elections countrywide, citing different reasons for the low voter registration.
The country is currently reeling under a national scandal in which the current president, former president and some ministers are alleged to have siphoned billions of dollars from the National Petroleum Fund and the Plastic fund into their pockets.
The democracy of the country is also staggering because of the Ian Khama Seretse Khama and the current president Eric Mokgweetsi Masisi feud.
-0- PANA MS/RA 10Mar2019
