IEC registers high number of spoilt votes

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday February 18, 2015 16:30

 

The 2014 general election report shows that IEC still registers high numbers of rejected ballots.

In 2009 IEC recorded 10,661, which translates to 1.92 percent while last year, rejected ballots stood at 8,167 representing 1.17 percent of the turnout compared to 2004 when it was 2.11 percent.

“The reasons for rejection were mainly unmarked ballot papers, writings, multiple marks on more than one candidate, and mutilated ballot papers,” the IEC report stated. 

The report said 698,409 Batswana cast their vote compared to 825,582 who had registered for the 2014 general elections which represents a voter turnout of 84.6 percent.

However, against the eligible voting population, the turnout stood at 52 percent.

The report further stated that budgeting for elections through the new arrangement divided into two projects, being the national voter and registration project, proved to be effective for planning and monitoring purposes.

The elections went ahead without any glitches but the IEC experienced several challenges relating to legal framework, logistics, human resource and stakeholder involvement, which affected the election delivery.

“The commission will continue to address these challenges through revision of its strategies which comprise improved planning, capacity building and strengthened stakeholder collaboration, amongst others,” the report stated.

It further stated that transport posed another challenge, owing to the high number of vehicles needed, particularly on the eve of, and during polling day.

The report also revealed that the office of the IEC secretary had made transport requests to the Central Transport Organisation and Local Authorities for over 6,000 vehicles. Although government departments had offered vehicles, some of them had mechanical faults.

Where there was a shortage, election officials were authorised to use their own motor vehicles and were reimbursed accordingly, it said.  IEC spent P112, 193,051.10 on the 2014 general elections.