This is as the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) recently took its consultative processes on i-voting, and e-voting to the North West. It is gathering views of different stakeholders, to see it they can introduce either e-voting, i-voting or both, in future elections, beyond the 2026 local government elections.

E-voting is voting that uses electronic means to either aid or handle casting and counting ballots including voting time, while i-voting is a system which allow people to vote from any device connected to the internet.

This means people can vote outside of a designated voting station.

“It will obviously call for robust information and education to everyone in the rural areas, including our elders,” says Chairperson of the North West House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders, Kgosi Thari Maotwe.

“So long as they make sure there is infrastructure, there is data that can be made available to the rural communities,” says Kgosi Kgotleng Montshiwa of Barolong boora Tshidi.

“The main thing is trust, and until we have trust in these technologies, we will always be doubtful whether this electioneering process is authentic or not,” says Kgosi Lesedi Motsatsi of Batlokwa ba Bogatsu

–SABC–