The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) is exploring the feasibility of implementing electronic voting (e-voting) systems to modernise the country”s electoral process. This initiative aims to address challenges associated with manual voting methods and align South Africa with global technological advancements in election management.
Recent research presented at the IEC’s E-Voting Conference indicates a strong public inclination towards e-voting. The study revealed that 79% of South Africans would be more likely to participate in elections if e-voting were available. This statistic underscores the potential of electronic systems to enhance voter turnout and engagement.
The IEC maintains a cautious yet open stance on adopting e-voting. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo emphasized that the current discussions are preliminary, focusing on assessing the country’s digital infrastructure, the affordability of implementing such systems, and the electorate’s readiness to transition to electronic methods. Mamabolo stated, “We are not straight-jacketing the country, but we think that the country cannot ignore the debate. Let’s get into the debate and see where it takes us.”