Is e-voting a possibility for Botswana’s 2014 general elections?

Abstract

This paper explores the possibility of using electronic voting in the 2014 general elections in Botswana. Electronic voting has a variety of benefits, including faster electoral processes in terms of voter registration, casting and counting of votes and, in terms of releasing the election results. The application of ICT in the electoral process is gaining momentum in developed countries because of the benefits associated with it. The paper explores the possibility of using this technology in the 2014 general considering the ICT infrastructure, strategies, policies and facilities available in Botswana. Data were collected from various stakeholders, including the Independent Electoral Commission, political parties and secondary sources. The findings suggest that although Botswana has the requisite infrastructure to support e-voting, e-voting would not be possible in the 2014 elections due to a number of factors such as lack of a legal framework that supports e-voting, long consultation processes and lack of access to computers and the internet by the majority of the electorate. E-voting is thus a dream for Botswana, but one which may become a reality in the near future.