In 2013, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa initiated discussions on the feasibility of implementing electronic voting. Over the years, the Commission has conducted extensive research in collaboration with other government entities, including the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) amongst others to assess the feasibility of e-voting in South Africa. This research, along with other engagements with various stakeholders and study tours in Africa and globally, particularly to countries that have successfully implemented e-voting systems has provided valuable insights into both the challenges and successes of such implementations.
As a result, the IEC has developed a policy document aimed at fostering discussions and debates across different sectors of South African society regarding the potential introduction of an e-voting system. In addition, the IEC plans to conduct roadshows across all provinces following the conference to gather public input on the issue of e-voting. This initiative forms part of their ongoing engagement efforts, which will contribute to the development of a Green Paper on the subject. The Green Paper will serve as a foundational document for the relevant parliamentary committees responsible for processing public policy developments and enacting the necessary legislation related to e-voting.
In his keynote address, Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, emphasised the importance of digital transformation, particularly within the department’s ecosystems, as a crucial first step toward modernising South Africa’s voting system. He commended the IEC for organising the conference, especially following the 2024 general elections, noting that it is a significant and timely step in the right direction. The IEC also invited sister electoral bodies from across the continent that have experience with e-voting to share their insights and challenges regarding its implementation. In 2014, Namibia became the first country in Africa to conduct a national election using electronic voting. Similarly, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) adopted e-voting due to the large size of their ballot papers, which, in some cases, spanned up to 30 pages per ballot.
However, the IEC has already begun digitising some of its electoral processes, such as the online voter registration portal, which allows voters to register, access their voter information at any time, and update their addresses when necessary. Additionally, the IEC has implemented the use of Voter Management Devices (VMD) to further streamline and enhance the electoral process. The conference brought together political parties, members of the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, corporations in the information and communication technology (ICT) sphere, government officials, and research and development institutions. Representatives of some countries, which have implemented electronic voting, including Estonia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Namibia also attended the conference.
ACCORD’s attendance at the e-voting conference aligns with the institution’s strategic objectives in contributing evidence-based analysis, policy support, and knowledge to respond to complex conflicts.
