12 Oct 2016

Minister of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale, says the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has done a lot to minimise the percentage of spoilt ballots during the elections.

Responding to a question in Ntlo Ya Dikgosi, Mr Molale said since maiden elections in 1999, the percentage of spoilt ballots dropped from 4.93 per cent to 1.17 per cent, which was a reduction of over 75 per cent.

Minister Molale said in 1999, there were 17 481 spoilt ballots but dropped in 2014, as there were only 8 167 spoilt ballots.

He further explained that IEC had established 25 offices across the country with the sole purpose of taking its services to the public.

The minister said the services included, amongst others, conducting civic and voter education for the broader spectrum of its stakeholders that included the electorate.

He also stated that the education provided underscored the importance of voting and how to vote to ensure that one’s vote counted.

Minister Molale further said the introduction of the electronic voting machines is intended to make spoilt ballots a thing of the past.

Kgosi Kgomotso Boiditswe of Serowe region had asked the minister to explain what IEC was doing to educate electorates in order to curb the increase of spoilt votes during general elections. ENDS