CAPE TOWN – The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has reopened discussions on the feasibility and sustainability of electronic voting, a decade after the idea was first explored in 2013.
Speaking at the Electronic Voting Conference, which runs over the next three days, Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo described the moment as a watershed for electoral democracy in the country. However, he stressed the need to consider challenges such as digital illiteracy and limited broadband access in rural areas.
The conference will examine how technology can enhance democratic processes while improving efficiency in South Africa’s electoral system. The IEC has already introduced online voter registration, allowing citizens to amend their personal details remotely.
IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya emphasized that any shift toward digital voting must be carefully tailored to the country’s unique circumstances.
“Ours is not a copy-and-paste exercise. Ours is to look at what would be beneficial for our own territory, not just for the sake of technology,” he said.
Mamabolo added that discussions must factor in South Africa’s socioeconomic landscape, ensuring that any solutions proposed are inclusive and practical.
“That’s why our discussions here must be comprehensive, aiming to address all blind spots and ultimately provide fit-for-purpose solutions for South Africa,” he noted.
The conference’s deliberations are expected to contribute to a green paper on e-voting, which will serve as a policy guide for Parliament in deciding whether South Africa should transition to electronic voting.