01 Feb 2017

Bye-elections are polls held when there is a vacancy either at council or National Assembly says Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) public relations officer, Mr Kabelo Hulela.

Speaking in an interview, Mr Hulela said writ of election was issued by the President under Section 34 of the Electoral Act while Election Instrument is issued by Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, which were legal binding instructions stating the place, day and hours when the returning officer would receive nominations of candidates and the day of taking poll and was also under Electoral Act Section 154. He said bye-elections were conducted in order to fill vacancies that occurred due to death, resignation, re-deployment of a representative or any other reason.

Mr Hulela noted that it was held 90 days after the seat becomes vacant but cited that the Electoral Ac was silent on the issue; hence it was the prerogative of the President to issue a writ of election.

He said that the eligible voters to participate in a bye-elections were those who registered to vote in the past general election and they should be Batswana who were 18-years-old and above.

He further said they were responsible for safe keeping their registration cards as well as valid identity card (Omang).

Mr Hulela said bye-elections were conducted similarly to the general elections proceedings and if a person does not meet the requirements stated, they would not be allowed to vote adding that entitlement to vote was stipulated on Section 31 and 32 of the Electoral Act and Local Government (District Councils) Act Section 15.

On the issue of Tlokweng by-elections, Mr Hulela said the writ of election will be issued by the President stating the nomination date and Election Day after 90 days from the day the constituency felt vacant. BOPA