Keorapetse proposes electoral amendments for transparency, integrity

On the sidelines of their court battle with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) over voter registration observation, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) has launched yet another move challenging the credibility of the Commission. Through the Selebi-Phikwe West Member of Parliament, who is also the Leader of Opposition (LOO) in Parliament, Dithapelo Keorapetse, the UDC has put forward a Private Member’s Bill aimed at reforming the electoral process. The draft, titled the “Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2023,” seeks to enhance transparency and eliminate possible corruption of the electoral system. In a memorandum accompanying the Bill, Keorapetse outlines the key objectives, emphasising alignment with international standards, including recommendations from the Independent Electoral Commission stakeholders report, SADC Principles and Guidelines for Democratic Elections, and others.

“The object of the Bill is to amend the Electoral

Act (Cap. 02:09) to provide for a transparent and corruption free electoral process, to ensure the integrity of the elections, and thereby enhancing public participation and confidence in the electoral process. Further, this amendment is in alignment with the Independent Electoral Commission Stakeholders Report, International Observers, SADC Principles and Guidelines for Democratic Elections, SADC Model Law on Elections, AU, Commonwealth, and EU Standards,” he states in the draft Bill to be presented before Parliament.

The proposed Bill

Clauses 2 and 3 amend the Act to substitute for the definition of the term “identity card”, with the term “identification document”. The “identification document” refers to an identity card issued under the National Registration Act (Cap. 01:02), a driving license issued under the Road Traffic Act (Cap. 69:01), or a passport issued under the Immigration Act (Cap.25:02). This amendment therefore introduces the use of a driving license and a passport for registration and voting. Thus, a voter who has lost or without a voter’s registration card but appears on the election roll, shall vote, provided he or she has his or her identity card, driving license or passport. Clause 4 amends Section 53 of the Act to provide for the use of transparent ballot boxes during elections; Clause 5 amends section 54 of the Act by inserting paragraph (aa) to allow a voter who appears on the election roll without a voter’s registration card on the day of the election to vote, provided the voter has his or her identity card, driving license or passport. The clause further re-introduces the use of an indelible ink. This amendment ensures the integrity of the elections and inspires confidence of the citizenry in the electoral process and avoids real or perceived possibility of multiple voting;

Clause 6 amends Section 61 of the Act to allow candidates and counting agents who wish to do so, during early voting, to keep the election documents under guard and observation. The amendment also applies to Diaspora votes; and Clause 7 amends Section 69 of the Act to provide for counting of votes, including Diaspora votes, to be counted at the polling station at which those votes were cast.