Parliamentary
Botswana is divided into sixty-one (61) constituencies, each of which elects one Member of the National Assembly. The constituencies will remain sixty-one (61) until Parliament has made provision altering the number of seats of Elected Members in the National Assembly or a comprehensive national population census is held in Botswana. Notwithstanding the above, there are Specially Elected Members increasing the number of Elected Members of the National Assembly.
Elections are conducted on the basis of adult suffrage, in accordance with the principle of “one person, one vote.” A political party that secures a majority of seats forms the Government.
In the event of a vacancy in parliament, the President issues a Writ of Election to determine the date of the election.
Local Government
The Sixty-One constituencies have been demarcated into Six Hundred and Nine (609) polling districts. Notwithstanding the above, there are Specially Nominated Members increasing the number of Elected Members of a Council. Each polling district returns one member in the same manner as the constituency. Whenever a vacancy occurs in a polling district, the Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs issues an Election Instrument setting the date for the election. The process of electing members of the Local Government during the general elections is done simultaneously with the election of members of the National Assembly.
Referendum
A referendum is an election in which citizens decide whether or not to give Parliament consent to amend the entrenched sections of the Constitution of Botswana. The referendum uses the existing voters roll and polling stations of the preceding general elections. At a National Referendum, only registered voters within the existing roll and polling stations are eligible to vote.