Electoral Fee of South Africa (IEC) has indicated that digital voting (e-voting) is inconceivable for the 2026 native authorities elections.
This follows the latest IEC-hosted e-voting convention, which explored the potential transition from the present paper-based voting system to an digital mannequin.
IEC’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Sy Mamabolo, stated that whereas the convention was constructive, it was nonetheless too early to overtake the nation’s electoral system.
“It is very important observe the fee has not but decided on the usage of e-voting, and definitely this isn’t contemplated to be used in subsequent 12 months’s municipal elections,” he stated.
Nonetheless, he stated the fee launched a dialogue doc to begin a rustic dialogue on the usage of expertise in elections.
In response to Mamabolo, the coverage dialogue doc assessed, amongst others; causes for contemplating the introduction of e-voting in South Africa; the related constitutional rules, coverage and authorized framework that should precede the introduction of e-voting within the nation and obtainable e-voting choices, their applied sciences, and value implications.
The IEC briefed the media in Centurion on Wednesday on its plans and preparations forward of the much-anticipated native elections.
Mamabolo confirmed that they’d already begun preparations for the subsequent normal elections of the municipal council.
He stated the fee will assess to make sure that the boundaries of its community of 23, 292 voting districts are aligned to the wards.
“In cases the place, on account of the demarcation of wards, voting districts not accord to the wards, the Electoral Fee will undertake tasks to speak and re-register the affected voters to make sure that they’re registered inwards of peculiar residence,” he stated.
He reckoned that as a result of the 2021 elections had been held on November 1, then the upcoming ones needs to be held between November 2, 2026, and January 30, 2027.
In the meantime, Mamabolo stated the fee will give the general public a interval of six months to provide inputs for the consideration of the e-voting system within the nation.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
IOL Politics
