Parties propose electoral reforms
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday September 3, 2026 15:28
The proposed reforms were announced on Wednesday at Ave Maria, with the recommendations expected to be tabled before Parliament in November for consideration.
The APC wants November Parliament to review the electoral Act so that some laws may be implemented for 2029 general elections. Amongst the proposed changes is a provision that would allow voters to register only once in their lifetime.
The proposal is intended to streamline the voter registration process and reduce challenges associated with repeated registration.
Furthermore, the conference has proposed clearer legal guidance on the definition of a voter’s “principal residence” for purposes of voter registration and voting.
This, it believes, would help address concerns surrounding voter trafficking.
According to the Minister of State President, Defence and Security, Moeti Mohwasa, the proposed legal clarification is necessary to strengthen the electoral system and prevent the manipulation of voter registration.
“That the national identification (ID) cards being Omang, remain the principal form of identification, but a driver’s license or passport would be used where Omang is not available for voting and registration. Political parties should be provided with access to the verified electronic voters’ roll,” he had said.
However, the same process of the observation and monitoring applied during elections should also apply during the voter registration process.
The parties also resolved that a code of conduct should be developed for polling and counting agents, including prescribing the number of agents permitted at polling stations, as well as for political party agents involved in voter registration.
They also want special voting arrangements should be provided for persons living with disabilities by having them vote on special vote day and that electronic voting and electronic counting of ballots should be introduced.
Furthermore, they want ballots to be counted at polling stations and also transparent ballot boxes to be introduced.
The conference wants exit polling to be legalised and the stringent requirements governing the amendment of election petitions should be relaxed by allowing amendments of submitted documents.
Mohwasa revealed that those who want to contribute to electoral reforms will be given permission to do so.
“These reforms are some of the laws that political parties have been advocating for. Again, some of these reforms are the ones that the stakeholders have proposed according to Independent Electoral Commission stakeholders report which they normally hold after general elections,” he stated.
For his part, Leader of Opposition Dumelang Saleshando said it is a given that Botswana needs electoral reforms and that all parties agree on this.
'Numerous election observers have pointed out areas for improvement over many past elections. The proposed changes will deliver much needed improvements. However, more can be done. We need to open up the consultation process to get meaningful and impactful changes and broader national buy in.
'I think experiences from recent elections within SADC (Tanzania and Zambia) show that our region is regressing when it comes to Free, Fair and Credible elections that deliver a legitimate leadership'.