E-voting in South Africa? Here is what citizens say

South Africa’s 2024 general elections saw a voter turnout of approximately 59%, leaving millions of registered voters unaccounted for. In response to this decline in participation, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has embarked on a six-month consultation to explore the feasibility of electronic voting (e-voting).

To understand public sentiment, TechCabal spoke to six people about their perspectives on e-voting. Their responses reflect a mix of optimism, skepticism, and deep concern over the potential impact of technology on democracy.

Must be a system for all, not just the few; Atiya Mosam, public health physician and director at Mayibuye Health

One of the prevailing concerns is whether e-voting would truly be accessible to all South Africans, rather than benefiting only those with reliable digital access. In previous elections, while some voters waited for long to cast their ballots, others in well-resourced suburbs breezed through the process in under a few minutes. The challenge remains ensuring that any new system promotes inclusivity rather than deepening existing disparities.

“It took us less than 15 minutes to vote because of the suburb we live in and as we walked to the polling station all the similarly affluent people were enjoying their public holiday at the cafes whilst others had to sacrifice a large amount of their day waiting in line. My hope is that we do not further entrench inequity by introducing a system that will benefit only a few people and that they will have infrastructure to ensure everyone has access,” said Mosam.

A solution to long queues, but must be free; Anna Harris-Stone, human resources consultant and SME business mentor

Endless queues that barely move can make the voting process discouraging. For many, the current system feels excessively time-consuming. Reports from previous elections indicate that some voters endured wait times of over eight hours just to cast their ballots, leading many to abandon the process altogether. Anna Harris-Stone, a human resource consultant and SME business mentor, experienced this firsthand and believes e-voting could save the day—provided it remains free and accessible to all.

“I waited in what was considered a ‘short’ queue in a historical coloured township in Polokwane—five hours, just to vote. Many left after hours of waiting with no progress. After my last waste of a day, I’m definitely keen for a tech solution, but knowing the data cost challenges for many, it must be “free” to access,” said Harris-Stone.

A gateway or a risk; Sam Wilcox–Diedericks, executive and leadership coach and Nokuthula Cwele, sexual reproductive health rights expert

South Africa’s youth population aged 18 and above is estimated to be around 27.79 million, including 42% of the total eligible voter population (11.7 million). This tech-savvy generation, highly engaged with digital platforms and mobile technology, presents a promising opportunity for the adoption of e-voting. However, concerns remain around the potential for fraud and corruption, especially given the persistent and evolving cybersecurity threats within South Africa’s digital landscape.

Executive and leadership coach, Wilcox–Diedericks envisions how the process will unfold, considering what strategies might succeed and what risks could emerge.

“I am just not 100% sure how secure it would be, what [it] would be opening the door to? It could be higher levels of participation especially from the youth sector, new opportunities for fraud and corruption and maybe running a parallel system would work – I need to be educated,” Wilcox-Diedericks said. 

Nokuthula Cwele, a sexual reproductive rights expert, shares the same sentiments. “Younger voters would take this in stride.” However, Cwele questions how e-voting might change the roles of electoral observers and administrators.

“What is the plan for the roles of the IEC and other observers? Will they also be transferred to an IT function or system? And how many IT professionals would be required to run something like this on the backend?” Cwele asks. 

Adopt e-voting or risk excluding voters; Ngozi Kiiza, data analyst at Kiiza Consulting and Lusungu Kanchenche, CEO and Co-founder, Ungweru-Chiedza Social Development (UCSD)

As technology continues to penetrate every aspect of modern life, data analyst Ngozi Kiiza noted that the question of whether South Africa should adopt e-voting is not just timely, it is essential from a sustainability standpoint, as well as  resource and time management, and the enhancement of democratic credibility.

“Exploring and implementing a secure electronic voting system is both feasible and desirable,” Kiiza said. “Traditional voting is costly, resource-intensive and e-voting can reduce environmental impact, save public funds, and streamline operations, following the success of countries like Estonia and India. Long queues and logistical challenges limit voter participation and a secure digital system could improve accessibility, benefiting working-class citizens, rural communities, and people with disabilities.

Cybersecurity risks exist, but robust governance and oversight—like the U.S.’s response to election interference—can help safeguard the process. Transparency and public education are key to building trust. 

While e-voting is not a perfect solution, refusing to modernise risks excluding voters and widening the digital divide. South Africa should lead the e-voting conversation in Africa and invest in feasibility studies for an inclusive electoral future.”

Lusungu Kanchenche, CEO and Co-founder, Ungweru-Chiedza Social Development, acknowledged the issue of trust in the e-voting system, but  stressed that “employing blockchain technology could deal with transparency and credibility.”

The debate over e-voting in South Africa reflects both excitement and concerns, revealing a nation eager to modernise while remaining cautious about its risks. While digital voting could enhance accessibility, reduce long queues, and align with global advancements, concerns over security, inclusivity, and trust remain at the forefront.

To move forward, a well-structured approach is crucial—one that ensures transparency, robust cybersecurity, and equal access for all citizens. Learning from countries like Namibia, the first African country to use e-voting in 2014 and also the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)  that used e-voting in its 2018 elections, South Africa has the opportunity to craft an e-voting system that not only works but strengthens democratic participation. 

Skepticism is natural, but past innovations like mobile banking were once doubted too.

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