14 Mar 2017

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) project coordinator, Mr Gabriel Seeletso has called on Batswana to come on board to ensure the success of the project.

Speaking at a kgotla meeting to update the public on the project progress in Moshupa, Mr Seeletso appealed  for support of EVM’s, noting  that their success leans on Batswana’s backing.

He said  there was need to educate Batswana on  the electoral process that would shed more light on why people should vote, thus encouraging them to vote and curb voter apathy.

Mr Seeletso also said there was need to enlighten people on how to vote emphatically, pointing out that if the public was politically aware, it would be easy for them to understand changes in the electoral process.

He therefore encouraged Batswana to embrace the new voting system in which Electronic Voting Machines would be used, noting that their advantages outweigh those of the old voting system in which ballot papers were used.

Mr Seeletso said the ballot paper system was time consuming as electorate had to wait in long queues for hours to vote, while counting of ballots also consumed a lot of time, hence the need to introduce EVMs to enhance efficiency in the electoral process.

He said the new system was cheaper than the older one because the older process required new  stationery and more human resource to manage elections while EVM machines  were only bought once.

He said Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) had benchmarked in a number of countries with regard to the EVM’s best practice, emphatically pointing out that a decision was reached to use machines with rechargeable cells as there are some places where electricity is a challenge in Botswana.

Furthermore, Mr Seeletso said the machines, which was found in  in India, was a perfect substitute to ballot papers in the sense that they can use batteries that have a long life span, thus enabling IEC to use such machines in areas where there is no electricity.

Mr Seeletso therefore solicited support from constituents across the political divide and urged them to move in one direction to ensure IEC endeavours come to pass.

He shared that the machines would be loaded with brail to enable the visually impaired to exercise their democratic right to vote.

He said Batswana would have an opportunity to get a feel of the machines while education would be imparted to them on how to use the machines prior to the 2019 general elections. ENDS