Parliament takes stock of 2024 polls, highlights long queues, low voter turnout & failing tech as needing attention

Sixteen months since the last elections, Parliament has taken stock of the process, highlighting long queues, low voter turnout, poorly trained staff and failing technology as the main issues that require attention.

The National Assembly on Thursday debated an electoral report from the home affairs committee, which has recommended a review of the rules on voting outside of a registered voting district.

Opposition parties have argued that the Electoral Commission (IEC) can’t assess its own performance and wants its officials to face security vetting and lifestyle audits.

Political parties across the board say they are concerned about what appears to be inadequate training for electoral staff.

The Democratic Alliance (DA)'s Adrian Roos said the IEC's information technology, especially temperamental voter management devices, remained concerning.

"The 2024 national and provincial elections saw over 800 voting stations close after 9pm, with no detailed analysis of why. VMD data can and must be used to track the causes of these late closures."

Build One South Africa (BOSA) MP Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster said that Section 24A of the Electoral Amendment Act, requiring the IEC to be notified before being eligible to vote outside of a voting district was disenfranchising the voter.

"We can’t call ourselves a free democracy when the system ultimately denies votes, denies voices and denies power."

The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP)'s Wayne Thring called for the urgent reform of the biometric identification systems and for an independent audit of the IEC’s digital infrastructure.