- The Botswana Electoral Law provides for advance voting, which was conducted by the Botswana IEC on 19 October 2024.
- Shortages of ballot papers at some polling stations led to concerns and resulted in a repeat voting process on 26 October 2024.
- Ballot boxes and other materials were transported securely, closely monitored, and escorted by party agents and the police.
- Metallic ballot boxes remained in use, raising concerns about transparency in the electoral process.
- Political parties maintained a strong presence, with UDC and BDP agents observed at nearly all visited polling stations.
- Domestic observers had minimal involvement, with civil society organisations unable to deploy observers to many polling stations.
Botswana
30 October 2024
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Resources
ESN-SA and ZESN 2024 Botswana Election Preliminary Statement [EN]
ESN-SA and ZESN 2024 Botswana Election Observation and Learning Mission Report [EN]
African Union 2024 Botswana Election Observation Mission Report [EN]
Recommendations
Our recommendations on Botswana elections based on our reports above and classified by thematic areas
Management and Procedures
- Count votes at the polling station level and post results at polling stations as a best practice to enhance transparency and electoral integrity.
- Use translucent ballot boxes to improve transparency in the voting process.
Competition and Transparency
- Ensure advance voting is conducted in a manner that builds and promotes public trust in the Commission.
- Empower CSOs to engage meaningfully in the electoral process, particularly as domestic observers, to strengthen democratic processes, promote transparency, and ensure inclusive representation.
Main Findings
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