EAST LONDON – The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) hosted a stakeholder engagement on 18 September 2025 at the East London International Convention Centre (EL ICC), bringing together political leaders, faith-based groups, higher institutions students and learners from high school to explore the possibility of introducing electronic voting (e-voting) in South Africa.
The IEC outlined how voting machines are used internationally and in some provinces, allowing voters to cast ballots electronically, with some producing paper receipts for verification and recounts. Attendees expressed concerns about hacking, institutional mistrust and system reliability, questioning how vote counts and recounts would be handled without traditional paper ballots.
Provincial Electoral Officer Kayakazi Magudumana addressed infrastructure limitations in the Eastern Cape, emphasizing the need for battery-powered machines with 24-hour backup and secure data storage.
Regional Chairperson of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) Lubabalo Popo supported e-voting with caution, highlighting the importance of managing risks and securing data.
Furthmore, Students and learners also shared their perspectives. Itumeleng Isaac Boboyi an Engineering and IT student, believed e-voting could boost engagement, suggesting a pilot program at campuses.
In addition leaner from SEK Mqhayi School in Mdantsane Mlibo Ntlekisa , noted that e-voting fits the needs of young people, who prefer quicker systems.
The event concluded that e-voting could modernize elections and attract youth participation, but its introduction requires careful planning, strong infrastructure, and public education to build trust.
Photographs: supplied
