As South Africa weighs the shift to electronic voting, one thing is clear—trust is the real currency of democracy. At a conference in Cape Town, experts stressed that without public confidence, even the most secure e-voting system could crumble.
The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) pointed out that skepticism toward the current system could make voters hesitant to embrace digital ballots. “Trust requires both technical security and perceived reliability,” said HSRC’s Odilile Ayodele, underscoring how perception shapes electoral confidence.
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) chairperson Mosotho Moepya echoed these concerns, warning that no segment of society should be excluded from the conversation due to socio-economic barriers. He emphasized that the debate over e-voting isn’t just a knee-jerk response to controversies from last year’s elections but a broader discussion about South Africa’s democratic future.
While no timeline has been set, one thing is certain: the road to e-voting isn’t just about technology—it’s about winning hearts and minds. As the country prepares for future elections, the bigger question remains: Can trust in the system be restored before the ballot box goes digital?
