23 Aug 2016

Member of Parliament for Bobonong constitutiency, Mr Shaw Kgathi says Parliament has passed the Electoral Amendment Bill during the winter parliament session.

Addressing kgotla meetings in the villages of Molalatau and Mathathane on Tuesday, Mr Kgathi told residents that the Bill intends to introduce the use of Electoral Voting Machines (EVM) in the upcoming general elections in 2019.

Mr Kgathi said the Act was amended because the old system caused delays in voting and counting of ballots during elections, saying the voting machines will make voting and counting much easier and faster unlike the ballot paper system.

The ballot paper, he said causes delays during voting and counting which is not good for democracy as people wait for results for days.

He said according to the bill there will be only one voter registration and that the voters roll will be issued on the day of the election.

The machine, he said will have all party symbols that are contesting the elections and allows for the voter to make a change when a mistake is made during voting.

He said the Bill will allow for voters that need assistance during voting to come with their trusted companions to help them vote unlike in the ballot system where such people were assisted by polling officers.

This, he said is intended to address issues of voter trafficking where some politicians take voters from other constituencies to add on their numbers.

He implored residents to register for elections when the IEC announce dates for such because there will be no supplementary registration.

Residents welcomed the new system , arguing it will help reduce long queues during elections. Ends