IEC opens 6-month public consultation process on electronic voting

JOHANNESBURG - The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC)  has opened a six-month public consultation process on the possible use of electronic voting (e-voting).

The commission is inviting submissions from electoral experts, political parties, voters and members of the public to comment on whether they are in support of the move.

During a media briefing on Wednesday, the commission said it was unlikely to utilise any form of e-voting for the upcoming local government elections.

However, the IEC’s chief electoral officer, Sy Mamabolo, said the commission was always looking at ways to make the voting process more accessible and efficient.

"It’s a matter the country can’t ignore, it’s something we need to debate, to look at the relative strengths and weaknesses, to look at what model, if we were to implement it, what model would be best suitable to our country given the technological penetration which is differentiated for different areas in the country."