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Elections in Botswana
 
Political Profile
Political System: Democracy
President: Ian Khama (BDP) [since 1 April 2008] The President is elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term.
Parliament [bicameral]
--House of Chiefs (15 Seats) A largely advisory body consisting of the chiefs of the 8 principal tribes who are permanent members, 4 indirectly elected subchiefs, and 3 members selected by the other 12 members; the 7 non-permanent members serve 5-year terms.
--National Assembly (63 Seats) 57 members are elected by direct popular vote in single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post (simple majority) system, 4 are appointed by the majority party, and 2 (the President and Attorney-General) are ex-officio members; members serve 5-year terms.
Political Situation since Independence
1966-     Democracy
2012 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 3, Civil Liberties - 2, Status: Free
Next Scheduled National Assembly Election: October 2014
Political Parties: BAM - Botswana Alliance Movement, BCP - Botswana Congress Party, BDP - Botswana Democratic Party/Bechuanaland Democratic Party (right-wing, conservative), BIP - Botswana Independence Party, BLP - Botswana Liberal Party, BNF - Botswana National Front (left-wing, social-democratic), BPP - Botswana People’s Party/Bechuanaland People’s Party (centrist), BPU - Botswana Progressive Union, BTTO - Botswana Tlhoko Tiro Organisation, IFP - Independence Freedom Party, MELS - MELS [Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin] Movement of Botswana, NDF - New Democratic Front.
 
Election Results
 
 
Legislative: 1965, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009
Local Government: 1999, 2004, 2009
 
1 March 1965 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 188,950

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

140,858 (74.6%)

Party

% of Votes

Number of Seats (31)

Bechuanaland Democratic Party (BDP)

80.4%

28

Bechuanaland People’s Party (BPP)

14.2%

3

Bechuanaland Independence Party (BIP)

4.6%

-

Others

0.8%

-

 
18 October 1969 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 140,428

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

  76,858 (54.7%)

Party

% of Votes

Number of Seats (31)

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)

68.4%

24

Botswana National Front (BNF)

13.5%

3

Botswana People’s Party (BPP)

12.1%

3

Botswana Independence Party (BIP)

0.8%

1

Independent

0.0%

-

 
26 October 1974 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 205,050

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

  64,011 (31.2%)

Party

Number of Seats (32)*

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)

27

Botswana National Front (BNF)

2

Botswana People’s Party (BPP)

2

Botswana Independence Party (BIP)

1

*In addition, four members were indirectly elected.
 
20 October 1979 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 230,231

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

134,496 (58.4%)

Party

% of Votes

Number of Seats (32)*

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)

75.4%

29

Botswana National Front (BNF)

13.1%

2

Botswana People’s Party (BPP)

7.5%

1

Botswana Independence Party (BIP)

3.8%

-

Independents

0.2%

-

*In addition, four members were indirectly elected.
 
8 September 1984 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 293,571

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

227,756 (77.6%)

Party

% of Votes

Number of Seats (34)*

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)

68.0%

29

Botswana National Front (BNF)

20.4%

4

Botswana People’s Party (BPP)

6.6%

1

Botswana Independence Party (BIP)

3.2%

-

Botswana Progressive Union (BPU)

1.3%

-

Independents

0.5%

-
*In addition, four members were indirectly elected; Owing to a subsequent by-election, the BDP total was reduced to 28 Seats while the BNF total increased to 5 Seats.
 
7 October 1989 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 367,069

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

250,487 (68.2%)

Party

% of Votes

Number of Seats (34)*

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)

64.84%

31

Botswana National Front (BNF)

26.86%

3

Botswana People’s Party (BPP)

4.36%

-

Botswana Independence Party (BIP)

2.48%

-

Botswana Progressive Union (BPU)

0.87%

-

Botswana Freedom Party (BFP)

0.54%

-

Botswana Liberal Party (BLP)

0.02%

-

* In addition, four members were indirectly elected.
 
15 October 1994 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 370,173

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

283,375 (76.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  22,144

Total Valid Votes

 261,231

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (40)*

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)

138,826

53.1%

27

Botswana National Front (BNF)

98,427

37.7%

13

Botswana People’s Party (BPP)

12,052

4.6%

-

Independence Freedom Party (IFP)

7,685

2.9%

-

Botswana Progressive Union (BPU)

3,016

1.2%

-

Others

1,225

0.5%

-
*In addition, four members were indirectly elected.
 
16 October 1999 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 459,662

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

354,466 (77.1%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  17,483

Total Valid Votes

 336,983

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (40)*

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)

192,598

57.15%

33

Botswana National Front (BNF)

87,457

25.95%

6

Botswana Congress Party (BCP)

40,096

11.90%

1

Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM)

15,805

4.69%

-

MELS Movement of Botswana (MELS)

22

0.01%

-

Independents

1,004

0.30%

-
*In addition, four members were indirectly elected; It should be remembered that the President and Attorney General are ex officio members of the National Assembly.
 
30 October 2004 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

 552,849

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

421,272 (76.2%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    8,893

Total Valid Votes

 412,379

Party

Number of Votes

% of Votes

Number of Seats (57)*

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)

213,308

51.73%

44

Botswana National Front (BNF)

107,451

26.06%

12

Botswana Congress Party (BCP)

68,556

16.62%

1

Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM)

11,716

2.84%

-

Botswana People’s Party (BPP)

7,886

1.91%

-

New Democratic Front (NDF)

3,237

0.78%

-

MELS Movement of Botswana (MELS)

121

0.03%

-

Independents

104

0.03%

-

*In addition, four members were indirectly elected; It should be remembered that the President and Attorney General are ex-officio members of the National Assembly.
 
16 October 2009 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

725,817

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

555,308 (76.5%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  10,661

Total Valid Votes

544,647

Party Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (57)*
Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) 290,099 53.26% 45
Botswana National Front (BNP) 119,509 21.94% 6
Botswana Congress Party (BCP) 104,302 19.15% 4
Botswana Alliance Movement (BAM) 12,387 2.27% 1
Botswana People's Party (BPP) 7,554 1.39% -
MELS Movement of Botswana (MELS) 292 0.05% -
Botswana Tlhoko Tiro Organisation (BTTO) 40 0.01% -
Independents 10,464 1.92% 1
*In addition, four members were indirectly elected; It should be remembered that the President and Attorney General are ex-officio members of the National Assembly.