The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) recently hosted a national conference on electronic voting, focusing on the feasibility, sustainability, and policy considerations of introducing e-voting in the country. This discussion comes more than a decade after the IEC first initiated dialogue on the topic in 2013, where a similar conference concluded that South Africa’s current paper-based voting system, often referred to as manual voting, was sufficient for the time being. Twelve years later, the Commission has reconvened stakeholders for further deliberation, following extensive research on electronic voting in collaboration with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). The research, conducted by the HSRC, culminated in a Policy Discussion Document, which the Commission hopes will generate public policy debate on electronic voting (e-voting) technologies and the feasibility of introducing such technologies in South Africa. Reflecting on the importance of this initiative, IEC CEO Mr Sy Mamabolo stated: “It is part of the statutory purview of the Commission to conduct research with a view to improving the quality of elections. We must investigate new approaches to improve the electoral process, voter experience, accessibility, and enable cost savings.”
This ongoing engagement signals a shift in perspective, moving from simply assessing the status quo to actively exploring viable alternatives. There’s a famous quote attributed to Bert Lance: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” This could easily be applied to the broader electoral context of South Africa’s current voting system, which has been in use since the first democratic elections in 1994. However, as technology evolves and the demands of voters shift, the question arises: is it time to reconsider?
What is the motivation behind electronic voting in South Africa?
The IEC is widely regarded as one of the most credible and effective electoral bodies globally. Over the past three decades of democracy, the Commission has consistently delivered free, fair, and credible elections, with only minor incidents, each of which it has successfully resolved. This includes the 2024 general elections, widely seen as the most competitive in the country’s history, which tested the strength and resilience of South Africa’s democratic institutions, including the IEC itself. In the broader context, the IEC has done well in protecting South Africa’s electoral integrity over the years. The motivation to explore electronic voting emerges not as a response to IEC’s challenges when it comes to the current system of voting, but as a proactive step toward enhancing and modernising the electoral process in South Africa. There are several factors driving the shift from manual voting to electronic voting. Amongst others, is the desire for greater efficiency and speed in vote counting and result tabulation; the need to modernise in line with global electoral trends, and the potential of e-voting to increase voter turnout which has been a matter of concern for the IEC. Lastly, electronic voting will assist in reducing human error commonly associated with manual voting.
The motivation to explore electronic voting emerges not as a response to IEC’s challenges when it comes to the current system of voting, but as a proactive step toward enhancing and modernising the electoral process in South Africa
Tweet
Challenges associated with manual voting
Manual voting is time consuming, particularly during the vote counting and result tabulation stages. While smaller voting stations with fewer ballots may conclude this process quickly, larger voting districts often face significant delays. These delays can create periods of heightened tension and anxiety among political parties, citizens, and other stakeholders awaiting results. In some cases, prolonged counting can give rise to speculation and lead the public to cast various aspersions regarding election rigging, electoral fraud, or other irregularities including electoral maleficence. E-voting offers a solution by enabling faster, more efficient counting and tabulation, with a lower margin for error, thus helping to maintain public confidence in the electoral processes and to reduce post-election volatility.
The second key issue relates to increasing voter turnout. Voter participation in South Africa has been on a steady decline since the first democratic elections in 1994. However, there is no clear correlation between low voter turnout and the country’s current voting system. Presentations from international contexts indicate that transitioning to electronic voting does not automatically lead to higher turnout. For example, Estonia, often cited as a pioneer in e-voting, has not seen a significant increase in voter participation solely due to the adoption of electronic voting. In South Africa, deeper socio-economic political issues are partly attributed to the decline in voter turnout, particularly the lack of service delivery and widespread disillusionment with the state of governance in general. Many citizens, especially the youth, feel that voting does not bring meaningful change to their lives. This sentiment is compounded by the country’s high youth unemployment rate, which contributes to political apathy and disengagement. Therefore, while e-voting may offer convenience for the electorate, it is unlikely to resolve the underlying causes of low voter turnout.
Challenges and risks associated with electronic voting
One of the major challenges the IEC is expected to face in the possible implementation of electronic voting is the issue of security, particularly concerns around cyberattacks. This was a key issue raised by delegates during the conference. The world is witnessing an increase in the frequency and sophistication of cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure worldwide. Thus, questions have been raised as to whether South Africa currently has the technical capacity to safeguard an electronic voting system from external interference. There are fears that without strong cybersecurity measures, the system could be vulnerable to hacking, manipulation, or other forms of cyber tampering, which could erode public trust in the electoral process. The fears are largely due to South Africa’s current state of infrastructure and whether the country is capable of supporting a secure and reliable e-voting system in future, as well as whether all South Africans are able to access such systems.
One of the key considerations in implementing electronic voting in South Africa is accessibility, particularly for people living in rural areas. The delegates raised concerns about whether citizens in deep rural areas would be able to use electronic voting, given the country’s existing challenges, such as load shedding, which affects power supply, and limited network connectivity, especially in remote and underserviced areas.
These infrastructure limitations pose a serious challenge to the success of a nationwide electronic voting system. The IEC has acknowledged these challenges and assured South Africans that they are committed to finding a model that is best suited to the country’s unique context. The Commission has emphasised that any system adopted will take into account the current realities on the ground and will be designed to be inclusive, practical, and accessible to all citizens, regardless of their location.
The IEC has acknowledged these challenges and assured South Africans that they are committed to finding a model that is best suited to the country’s unique context
Tweet
Legal and regulatory considerations on electronic voting
The Commission has indicated the need for amendments to the country’s electoral laws and policies to enable a smooth transition to electronic voting. The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, which serves as the parliamentary body responsible for processing public policy developments such as e-voting, will need to review the current legislation. This review will be essential to ensure that the legal framework is appropriately adapted to support a shift from a manual to an electronic voting system. It is worth noting that the Commission has already taken steps towards digital transformation through the introduction of technology to some of its existing platforms. A prime example is the online voter registration system, which enables new voters to register online and allows existing voters to update or amend their registration details from anywhere. This online portal operates independently of physical locations, offering a glimpse into the potential of digital platforms in electoral processes.
Case study: implementation of electronic voting in South African universities
A number of South African universities have already transitioned from manual voting to electronic or i-voting systems for the election of Student Representative Councils (SRCs). Institutions such as the University of South Africa (UNISA), the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), and North-West University amongst others, have successfully implemented electronic voting processes within their student governance structures. This shift demonstrates that it is possible for the country to implement electronic voting, provided that the necessary infrastructure is established. These universities have shown that with the right systems in place, electronic voting can be secure, efficient, and accessible, even within diverse and widespread student populations. The success of i-voting at tertiary institutions strengthens the argument for broader adoption of electronic voting nationally, suggesting that the technology is not only viable but also capable within South Africa’s unique social and infrastructural environment.
The Commission has clearly stated that no final decision has been made regarding e-voting, as they are awaiting the completion of all relevant processes before proceeding. However, the Commission will continue to seek the views of South Africans and it has outlined several steps to guide the process, including public and stakeholder consultations and a review of submissions. Once these processes are complete, the Commission will produce a green paper to serve as the foundation for implementing electronic voting.
Boikanyo Nkwatle is a programme officer at ACCORD.
