Eligible Voters In Last Minute Rush To Register
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday November 12, 2018 14:08
However, despite the last minute rush the IEC still failed to reach its set target to register 1,592,350 eligible voters for the 2019 general elections.
Registration ended yesterday with some people not motivated to vote. By November 4, 2018 only 566,946 had registered to vote and it became clear that there is need for supplementary registration.
Yesterday at Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) at Gaborone Bonnington North constituency, prospective voters who queued were complaining that there were no chairs nor shades for them to wait for their time to register.
“It is common that the last two to three days are usually busy. IEC could have either increased the number of people who are assisting us to register or even make a quick observation at polling stations that have started to be busy,” one prospective voter said. “If supplementary election is going to be there IEC should increase its manpower in some of its busiest polling stations.”
Another prospective voter said the reason why people came to register late is because of the political parties’ primary elections delays, explaining that people normally want to register while knowing their candidates for parliamentary and council elections.
Top 10 constituencies with the highest number of voter registration are:
* 2018 general voter registration vs 2013 general voter registration
2018 2013
Bobonong 16,798 11,295
Ramotswa 14,603 11,092
Lerala-Maunatlala 14,173 12,727
Mochudi East 14,147 10,917
Mochudi West 14,020 10,502
Ngami 13,997 12,428
Kanye South 13,624 11,703
Sefhare-Ramokgonami 13,347 11,770
Maun West 13,176 10,564
Goodhope-Mabule 13,176 10,944
* 2018 general voter registration vs 2013 general voter registration
Those with the least number of voter registration
2018 2013
Serowe West 6,555 6,076
Gaborone South 6,440 4,522
Francistown South 5,747 5,549
Gaborone Bonnington North 5,547 7,058
Gaborone Central 5,461 6,311
Selebi Phikwe East 5,384 5,663
Gaborone Bonnington South 5,366 5,355
Chobe 5,233 5,200
Francistown East 4,980 4,915
Selebi Phikwe West 4,772 6,004