Pretoria: The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has initiated a six-month national consultation process to gather feedback on the potential introduction of electronic voting (e-voting) in the country. Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria, Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo stated that the initiative aims to collect insights from voters, political parties, interest groups, and civil society organisations to develop a comprehensive policy on e-voting.
According to South African Government News Agency, no decision has yet been made on the implementation of e-voting. Mamabolo emphasised that the Commission is carefully evaluating its feasibility, taking into account South Africa’s unique social and infrastructural landscape. He highlighted that successful e-voting systems depend on secure and reliable technological infrastructure, including servers, power supply, and stable internet connectivity. Additionally, any system adopted must address the country’s digital divide and consider challenges such as low internet penetration, literacy gaps, and accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Mamabolo noted that e-voting should not only enhance convenience and administrative efficiency but must also strengthen transparency, public confidence in electoral outcomes, and broaden participation across demographics. However, he cautioned against assuming that digital voting would automatically increase voter turnout, explaining that those who have opted out of the electoral process due to perceived lack of value are unlikely to be swayed by a new voting platform.
Cost considerations are also under review, with Mamabolo stressing the importance of a thorough cost-benefit analysis. He warned that e-voting may not necessarily lead to cost savings in election administration. The announcement follows the IEC’s hosting of an international conference in March this year, which gathered global experts and stakeholders to explore the feasibility of e-voting in South Africa. A comprehensive discussion document was launched at the event, outlining the constitutional, legal, and technological considerations for such a transition.
In a separate development, Mamabolo provided updates on the state of political party registration in the country. He revealed that South Africa currently has 609 registered political parties, with 383 at the national level and 226 registered at either the provincial or municipal level. However, many of these parties are inactive. Mamabolo explained that the Electoral Commission, as the official registrar, is obliged to maintain the integrity of the party register. In February, the IEC issued written notices to 192 parties, indicating its intention to cancel their registration due to inactivity. Parties without representation in municipal councils, provincial legislatures, or the National Assembly are required by law to periodically confirm their continued existence.
Mamabolo noted that removing inactive parties from the register ensures a cleaner political landscape and frees up names, logos, and other identifiers for new and aspiring political movements.