There are several key reasons why the Electoral Commission is starting this national conversation about electronic voting in South Africa:

Growing Public Interest
South Africans across all communities have shown increasing interest in how technology could improve our voting system. This builds on our first e-voting conference held in 2013.

Advancing Technology
Digital technology and cybersecurity have advanced significantly in recent years. As your electoral commission, we have a duty to explore whether these developments could make voting more efficient and accessible for all South Africans.

Changing Voter Demographics
With more tech-savvy young voters joining our democracy, we need to evaluate if our current voting methods best serve everyone’s needs.

Challenges with Manual Voting
Our manual voting system faces some challenges, especially with our increasingly complex electoral system and a growing population. We need to examine if technology could help address these issues.

African Leadership
Several African nations are already exploring electronic voting. With South Africa’s strong democratic institutions and infrastructure, we should be part of this important continental conversation.

Important Note
This is just the beginning of a careful consultation process – not a decision to implement e-voting. If South Africa eventually decides to adopt electronic voting, it would be a long-term project requiring extensive planning and public input.

Electronic voting (e-voting) refers to any voting system where votes are cast or counted electronically. There are 3 main types of e-voting systems:

1. 1. Internet Voting
      • Allows voters to cast ballots from any computer with internet access
      • Can be done from home, work, or designated voting stations
      • Uses encryption and security protocols to protect vote integrity
   2. Direct Recording e-voting machines
      • Voters mark paper ballots which are then scanned and counted electronically.
      • Combines physical paper records with electronic counting.
      • Often seen as a good compromise between traditional and fully electronic voting.
   3. Electronic counting systems
      • Voters cast their votes directly on a computer terminal, known as an electronic voting machine (EVM).
      • The machine records and stores votes digitally.
      • May provide a paper backup of each vote (called a Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail or VVPAT)

Electronic voting (e-voting) refers to any voting system where votes are cast or counted electronically.

1. • Improved electoral efficiency: Faster vote counting and result tabulation and reduced human error in vote counting.
   • Potential to boost voter turnout, especially among younger, more digitally literate voters.
   • Potential for increased accessibility for disabled voters.
   • Can help prevent certain types of electoral fraud.
   • Enables more efficient elections in a larger population.

• • Cybersecurity risks and potential for hacking.
  • Need for robust back-up systems.
  • Voter trust and transparency concerns.
  • Digital divide and accessibility issues.
  • Initial set-up costs and technical infrastructure requirements.
  • Need for voter education and training.

The IEC has allocated at least six months for comprehensive public debate on implementing e-voting technologies in South Africa. This consultation period serves multiple critical purposes:

First, it provides an opportunity for all stakeholders – including citizens, civil society organizations, technology experts, and political parties – to voice their views and concerns about e-voting. Key discussion points include system security, process transparency, and ensuring universal accessibility, particularly for voters with disabilities and those in rural areas.

Following the public debate, Parliament will evaluate the feedback and determine whether to authorise the IEC to proceed with e-voting trials. The decision-making process will involve:

• • Assessment of technical feasibility and security requirements
  • Evaluation of infrastructure readiness across the countryAnalysis of implementation costs and resource requirements
  • Review of necessary legislative amendments
  • Consideration of international best practices and lessons learned

Should Parliament approve the initiative, the implementation would follow a carefully phased approach over several years. This gradual transition could include:

• • Pilot testing in selected voting districts
  • Comprehensive voter education programmes
  • Regular security audits and system assessments
  • Ongoing stakeholder consultation and feedback integration
  • Progressive roll-out based on success metrics and public confidence.

The IEC remains committed to putting the needs of its citizens first and will ensure that any new voting system is as reliable and trustworthy as our current paper-based voting.