‘Open minded’ approach needed for e-voting – IEC
Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said while
the possibility of e-voting systems in South African elections is exciting, it
must be approached with open minds and responsibility.
"We are in an era where cyber threats are increasingly prevalent. Ensuring the safety and security of an electronic voting system is paramount," said Mamabolo.
"We must build systems that are resilient, secure, and able to withstand the threat of today and the future."
Mamabolo gave the opening address at a three-day electronic voting conference in Cape Town on Monday.
The Independent Electoral Commission was hosting discussions about introducing e-voting sometime in the future.
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He said while digitalisation has become more prevalent, some portions of the country continue to have limited access to broadband connectivity.
"Moreover, we must address the digital divide. As we indicated, South Africa is a country with varying levels of digital access.
"While urban areas may have reliable internet and a high rate of technological literacy, rural communities and impoverished areas still face significant barriers to digital inclusion."
The IEC rolled out an online voter registration system portal in 2021 to draw in new voters and for existing voters to update their registrations.
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Mamabolo said the commission always had e-voting in its line of sight since 2013.
"The commission sees this as a potential watershed moment for our democracy, a national dialogue that cannot be ignored. The enthusiasm for e-voting is evidently strong, especially among the youth of our country who hold an unrestrained hope regarding its potential boost to voter participation, as well as simplifying the electoral process."
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