Electronic voting, welcome but�

Mmegi Editor | Tuesday July 26, 2016 12:53

We noted that electronic voting (e-voting) would provide greater fluidity, for instance, enabling one constituent to electronically vote for a candidate in a different constituency. At present, the IEC encourages Batswana to register and vote at their primary residence to avoid transfers and the incidence of voter-trafficking. Transfers have been offered since 2004, but the provision has never been cast in stone. Batswana, who would like to vote in constituencies different from their primary residence, are rather forced to incur the costs of travelling inordinate distances to register in their preferred areas.

With e-voting, a voter could register online or electronically, then vote in the constituency of their choice for the candidates of their choice, without leaving the comfort of their home or office. Thus, the recently passed amendments to the Electoral Act, providing for electronic voting, appear to be what the doctor ordered for the electoral process.  From today until August 3, suppliers of the proposed equipment will hold demonstrations for legislators, the media and other stakeholders.

As has become typical of political processes, particularly those emanating from the increasingly divided Parliamentary floor, the motivation behind the emergence of the amended act has given rise to many suspicions.

The amendments were moved as a matter of urgency, being hurried through by Presidential Affairs and Public Administration minister, Eric Molale, despite admissions that consultations were not conclusively carried out. Already, machines are being demonstrated and quite possibly tenders being prepared for the first electronic vote, which could be a by-election that some quarters of the press have said could feature Molale in a fresh bid for the Goodhope/Mabule seat. Away from this speculation, there is the very concrete issue of voter education and the need to overcome general computer illiteracy, particularly among older, rural voters who ironically comprise the majority of voters traditionally. Comments have already been made that the computer illiterate may find themselves reaching out to officers and others for help in using electronic voting channels, essentially mortgaging their privacy for the sake of the right to vote.

Other variables, such as the integrity of our IT systems and hardware, capacity of IEC personnel and even the reliability of the equipment to be used, present other red flags for many in the public sphere. There is already palpable scepticism from some voters who believe the urgency of the amendments, coupled with the mystery of electronic voting, could give rise to the mass electoral theft, where corrupt actors subvert the will of the people using technology. A ‘scorched earth’ information and education campaign is critical to dispelling these fears and ensuring that citizens not only maintain their faith in the electoral process, but are also able to capably use electoral voting channels when they are introduced.

 

Today’s thought

“I believe that voting is the first act of building a community as well as building a country.” 

 - John Ensign swana in 1990.