Eligibility
In accordance with Section 67 of the Constitution and Section 10 of the Electoral Act, a person qualifies to register as a voter if they:
- Are a citizen of Botswana
- Are in possession of a valid National Identity Card
- Have attained the age of 18 years
- Present themselves in person at a polling station within their polling district of residence.
Registration of Voters
Botswana maintains a periodic voters’ roll, which is compiled based on polling districts and polling stations, or whenever the Commission determines that a new general roll is required.
Voter registration is conducted in phases, beginning with a general voters’ registration period, followed by supplementary registration, if necessary, as provided for under Section 8 of the Electoral Act.
During the general voters’ registration period, registration officers are deployed at all polling stations. Supplementary voters’ registration may be conducted at polling stations, at the offices of the principal registration officers, and at other such places as the Secretary may from time to time appoint for such purpose.
Citizens residing outside Botswana are also eligible to participate in the electoral process. Registration and voting in the diaspora is conducted at designated embassies, high commissions, consulates, and other appointed places.
Production and Publication of Rolls
Each Registration exercise is followed by roll production. After the expiry of the registration period, the Commission compiles the names of the registered voters and produce a roll of voters. The general roll is published for forty-two (42) days for the public to inspect the roll without a fee. The supplementary roll is published for twenty-one (21) days for the public to inspect. During the publication, voters are allowed to register corrections on their names, queries, and objections with the Commission for necessary action. After the expiry of 42 and/or 21 days, the roll is certified and becomes operational. The certification of any roll is followed by the transfer of registration. Following the dissolution of Parliament, the Secretary shall cause amalgamation of existing rolls into an Election Roll.
Objections
Any person who is duly registered as a voter may object to the inclusion of any other name appearing in the voters roll in relation to the constituency in which they are registered. If the objection is upheld the voter is struck off the roll.
Objections are made by filling in Form G, together with a deposit of P10 per name objected to within 42 days of publications for a general roll and 21 days of a supplementary roll.
If the objection is disallowed the objector loses the deposit and may further be ordered to pay the person they objected to an amount not exceeding P500.00.
Issue of Duplicate Voter Registration Card
Where a voter loses their registration card or the card is destroyed, they may apply for a duplicate at their nearest IEC office.
NB: It is illegal for any person to keep registration cards which do not belong to them.