IEC secures P150m for electronic voting machines
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday October 5, 2016 18:00
Yesterday IEC secretary, Gabriel Seeletso confirmed the budget approval, but refused to disclose the amount of funds. Those close to the latest developments put the figure at P150 million.
“IEC will be engaging all stakeholders to educate them on the Electronic Voting Machines,” Seeletso said.
“This is because the President has assented to the bill and signed it into law recently. This therefore leaves the Commission under an obligation and it’s duty bound to implement the law to the best of its (IEC) ability,” he said.
He said the IEC would cover all 57 constituencies with training and education before the end of the financial year.
“We have started with political parties. We will then consult with the media, councils and hold kgotla meetings. Education of electronic voting machines will also be done at ward level. We will address meetings in each of the 490 polling districts,” Seeletso said.
The IEC secretary said the intention is not to leave anyone behind because electronic machines would be used in 2019 general elections. He also allayed fears the machines would be used to rig the vote, an accusation that opposition parties have made and even held demonstrations to show their displeasure.
“The machines will have a paper trail in case one has a complaint so that it can be used for verification. The party agents will sign before the machine is used and after to ensure that indeed it has not been tempered with before and after. We are still working on the specifications of the machines that we want. We want machines that will give us value for the money we spend. It is also not true that the IEC has already found the electronic voting machines,” he said.
He continued: “One thing I know is that Batswana want peace and love their country. Election officers have been doing a good job and need to be applauded on that. They make mistakes just like anyone. At times people misuse the word rigging unnecessarily.”
He reminded voters that supplementary registration has been cancelled and therefore there will only be general registration.
Seeletso said candidate’s deposits and fines have also been reviewed upwards.