DRUNK VOTING
There is no limit to the amount of alcohol and drugs one can consume before entering a polling station during elections.
And no matter the state one is in, one is allowed inside the voting venue and can go on and vote if one wishes to.
This was observed by this publication during the recent Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primary elections held in two separate phases countrywide.
Voters were seen sipping on alcohol at voting centres and openly criticising whoever they felt did not deserve to win.
This happened while voting was ongoing and in stark violation of laws that prohibit campaigning at polling stations.
Some polling agents were forced to sternly warn that laws should be followed or violators risked being thrown out. However, all they could do was warn against campaigning but not complain about the nuisance brought about by intoxicated people.
Some of those who were seemingly intoxicated even warned journalists that they should not dare take pictures of them. They crowded doors leading to where voting was being done, shouting at security manning the area.
Asked about this conduct, several presiding officers revealed that in the mornings and afternoons, voting went accordingly, but that things changed near closing time.
They experienced an influx of voters in the late evening and some of them were very impatient and drunk.
They wanted to force entry and complained loudly when told to wait for their turns. They suspected that some had been drinking all day and only rushed to the polling stations when they were about to close. This led to some voters not being able to vote on the day.
Asked if they have any rules and regulations guiding consumption of alcohol at voting centres, Chairman of BDP Communications Kagelelo Banks Kentse said they expect every voter to be responsible enough and be in a state that will not cause them to be a nuisance or unable to fully exercise their right to vote.
Kentse said as BDP, they will be waiting for reports from all presiding officers about how the election processes went, as well as recommendations.
If the matter of alcohol is raised as a disturbing behaviour during election, they will look into the matter, he said.
Meanwhile, the Botswana Electoral Act is also silent regarding alcohol and drug consumption on Election Day. It is not listed as an offence.
"There is no law that deals with alcohol consumption, the electoral law deals with misconduct at polling stations under section 64.
“What it means is that there is no electoral law on consumption of alcohol on voting day, but if people's rights are infringed upon, action will be taken because it becomes public nuisance," the spokesperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Osupile Maroba said.
And no matter the state one is in, one is allowed inside the voting venue and can go on and vote if one wishes to.
This was observed by this publication during the recent Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) primary elections held in two separate phases countrywide.
Voters were seen sipping on alcohol at voting centres and openly criticising whoever they felt did not deserve to win.
This happened while voting was ongoing and in stark violation of laws that prohibit campaigning at polling stations.
Some polling agents were forced to sternly warn that laws should be followed or violators risked being thrown out. However, all they could do was warn against campaigning but not complain about the nuisance brought about by intoxicated people.
Some of those who were seemingly intoxicated even warned journalists that they should not dare take pictures of them. They crowded doors leading to where voting was being done, shouting at security manning the area.
Asked about this conduct, several presiding officers revealed that in the mornings and afternoons, voting went accordingly, but that things changed near closing time.
They experienced an influx of voters in the late evening and some of them were very impatient and drunk.
They wanted to force entry and complained loudly when told to wait for their turns. They suspected that some had been drinking all day and only rushed to the polling stations when they were about to close. This led to some voters not being able to vote on the day.
Asked if they have any rules and regulations guiding consumption of alcohol at voting centres, Chairman of BDP Communications Kagelelo Banks Kentse said they expect every voter to be responsible enough and be in a state that will not cause them to be a nuisance or unable to fully exercise their right to vote.
Kentse said as BDP, they will be waiting for reports from all presiding officers about how the election processes went, as well as recommendations.
If the matter of alcohol is raised as a disturbing behaviour during election, they will look into the matter, he said.
Meanwhile, the Botswana Electoral Act is also silent regarding alcohol and drug consumption on Election Day. It is not listed as an offence.
"There is no law that deals with alcohol consumption, the electoral law deals with misconduct at polling stations under section 64.
“What it means is that there is no electoral law on consumption of alcohol on voting day, but if people's rights are infringed upon, action will be taken because it becomes public nuisance," the spokesperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Osupile Maroba said.