16 Jan 2024

Over 200 000 people registered in the first two weeks of the national voter registration exercise.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)’s update on Monday showed that 130 157 new voters registered in the second week, as compared to 75 566 in the first week , bringing the total number of registered voters to 205 723.

According to the update, Good Hope/Mmathethe and Nkange constituencies had the highest number of registered voters with 7 715 and 7 584 respectively between January 5 and 12.

“Tswapong North and Tswapong South also recorded significant numbers, with 6 451 and 6 681 voters respectively.’’

However, several other constituencies had less than 4 000 registered voters, with Chobe, Maun West, Francistown East, Mogoditshane East and Takatokwane having less than 2 000 registrations for the two weeks period.

In an interview, IEC Chief Public Relations Officer, Mr Osupile Maroba said the ongoing registration was progressing well except for few minor challenges such as some registration clerks reporting late for duty and others pulling out, adding that the commission was addressing such challenges.

He also expressed hope that the number of people registering to vote would increase as the registration deadline approached.

The IEC aims to register as many eligible voters as possible from the more than 1.7 million eligible Batswana as per the Department of Civil and National Registration records.
The exercise, which started on January 5 will end February 3. ENDS