EVMs might discourage the elderly � BDP
Boniface Keakabetse | Wednesday December 21, 2016 10:05
Speaking after a presentation by Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) consultant Gabriel Seeletso, councillors said majority of elderly people are ignorant of technology to the point of being inhibited to access it. Councillor for Moeti ward, Tlotlo Baganaletso said the elderly voters are more trustworthy when it comes to voting and he foresees a situation where a rumour starts spreading that voting is now done thorough ‘computers.’ “Just a mention of the word computer is enough to discourage elders from voting. They associate that with education. A perception may ensue that elections are now for the educated,” Baganaletso said.
Seeletso assured the house that IEC would go an extra mile to demonstrate the use of EVMs through avenues such as churches, kgotla meetings and other gatherings where elders may be found. Seeletso further explained that arrangements would be in place for people living with disabilities to use EVMs.
He further told the house that two machines per voting station will be availed, one for council ward and another for parliamentary.
Regarding the supplementary registration, Seeletso explained that it was stopped because politicians misused the exercise. “Supplementary was used to traffic voters. Majority of registrations during supplementary were trafficked voters,” he said. He encouraged councillors to encourage their voters to register on time, as they will be no supplementary registration.
Seeletso said they would be a delimitation exercise before the 2019 elections, as changes to wards could only be recommended by that exercise. Councillor for Gani/Nxaunxau Marobela Ledimo had complained that his ward together with that of Sehitwa/Kareng were too big.