GOV.BW

As soon as constituencies have been delimited by the Delimitation Commission, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) divides each constituency into polling districts in consultation with and involvement of stakeholders comprising traditional leadership, local authorities, civil society and the general public.  This exercise is carried out in collaboration with these primary stakeholders to provide accessibility of polling areas to the voting public.  Following the determination of polling districts, polling stations are identified in each district.

The names of established polling districts and identified polling stations are published in the Gazette and such other manner as the IEC may consider appropriate.

The IEC may from time to time add to the number of polling stations established in any polling district or vary a situation within a polling district of any polling station established therein.

Polling stations outside the country are established at all Botswana Embassies and consular missions and at other such places the IEC may consider necessary.

After verification of ballots is completed and all ballot boxes of a polling district/constituency have arrived, counting begins. Each ballot paper is unfolded to reveal the voter's mark identifying his/her candidate choice. The ballot is deposited into the receptacle marked with the name of a party which the chosen candidate belongs to or the independent candidate’s receptacle. When the intention of the voter is clear, the vote is valid and will be counted. Ballot papers in which the intention is not clear will be rejected.

For purposes of control and management of the process admission into counting centres to witness, counting of votes is limited to candidates and their spouses, election agents and counting agents assigned by the candidates, returning offices and assistant returning officers, and accredited observers and media.  Admission of counting agents is by letter of appointment signed by the candidate contesting elections in the polling district/constituency. Admission of any person other than those mentioned in the law (section 69 (2)) remains the discretion of the Returning Officer. 

If the counting of the votes results in the same number of votes for each candidate in a constituency, a fresh election will be held in that constituency.

At the conclusion of the counting of the votes the Returning Officer will declare the result of the poll aloud at the place of counting.

All Botswana citizens aged 18 and over who wish to vote in National and Local Government elections must register themselves with the Independent Electoral Commission.  The Independent Electoral Commission will from time to time announce a general registration period whereby eligible citizens can verify that they are included on the voter’s rolls and if they are not included, they can register to be added to the roll. At times other than general registration periods eligible citizens can register to be added to the voters list with the Principal Registration Officer. Upon registration, voters will be included in the voter’s roll for their constituency and issued a Voter’s Registration Card.

Any person who is a registered voter at one polling station and would like to transfer their registration to another polling station may apply to have their registration transferred.  A transfer cannot take place when a vacancy has occurred in the polling district the individual wishes to be transferred to.

Registered Voters may each cast one vote for their preferred candidate in National Assembly and Local Government elections on polling day. The date, locations and hours for the polls in each electoral district will be published by the district Returning Officers after nominations have closed. Each notice will also include the names, symbols and voting colours of the candidates for the district, as well as list the persons entitled to vote at each polling station.

Organisations and members of the public interested in learning about the electoral process and other civic matters, can obtain printed materials or request Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) staff attendance at various educational forums. Print publications available include pamphlets, posters and newsletters, while in-person forums may take the form of Kgotla meetings, institution and school visits, stakeholder workshops, and radio and television programmes.