Analysis | Could failure of voter management devices jeopardise introduction of e-voting in SA?
- By Maxwell Maseko
After they were piloted in the 2021 local government elections, Voter Management Devices (VMDs) ushered in a new era for election management in South Africa.
Maxwell Maseko has been tracking the performance of Voter Management Devices since their piloting in 2021 and unpacks whether SA will see the possible introduction of e-voting following the failure of the devices in the 2024 national election.
IEC viewed these hand-held touch-screen electronic devices as a game-changer for voter registration and the live-tracking of voters on election day. The devices would also assist in dealing with double voting. Acquired at a cost of millions of rand, they replaced old Zip-Zip barcode machines used since 1998, which could not capture real-time information.
VMDs were introduced at a time when the 雷速体育_雷速体育直播 pandemic posed a threat to electoral participation in the democratic world. While the IEC and some observers argue that they strengthened rigid health controls in the voting process, the devices still experienced several challenges. For example, a reported 67 000 voters were disenfranchised after their details could not be uploaded into the electoral system.
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