In a briefing to Members of Parliament on Tuesday, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) shared its readiness for the upcoming weekend voter registration. Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi highlighted that the voter management devices’ offline functionality has been optimized to ensure seamless operation without connectivity.
Sheburi informed the home affairs portfolio committee that the voter management devices’ operating system has been upgraded to Android, accompanied by enhancements to in-house developed applications. This offline mode allows the machines to function independently throughout the day, even in areas with poor or no connectivity.
“In cases where a connection cannot be established with databases, the applications are optimized to default to offline mode,” Sheburi explained. “Data is stored on the device and transmitted only when a stable connection is restored to the network and databases.”
To ensure the devices’ reliability, Sheburi noted that maintenance has been conducted on each voter management device. This includes checking battery life, SIM card connectivity, and addressing any faults found through a contractual agreement with the service provider.
The IEC conducted a comprehensive dry run on October 28, involving 23,296 voting stations and 74,356 staff to test the ICT system, supporting infrastructure, and the proficiency of registration staff. Sheburi confirmed that the offline mode of the devices worked seamlessly during the dry run, with identified challenges addressed promptly.
“We have trained 74,520 staff, and the IEC is prepared with a surplus of adequately trained personnel for the registration weekend,” Sheburi assured. He also mentioned the recruitment criteria developed in collaboration with the Party Liaison Committee and the removal of 155 individuals due to criminal records or serious criminal offenses.
Sheburi shared details about the 23,296 voting stations, emphasizing that only 23 voting station leases would be concluded that week. Despite some stations lacking formal structures, preparations, including setting up tents, have been made to ensure the smooth running of activities.
The IEC chairperson, Mosotho Moepya, addressed concerns about offline functionality, assuring MPs that the voter management devices’ batteries could operate for a day even during load shedding. He emphasized that voter information is securely stored on the machines and safely downloaded onto the system, eliminating any risk of data loss during offline periods.
Overall, MPs expressed satisfaction with the IEC’s readiness for the registration weekend and its awareness campaign. IFP MP Liezl van der Merwe sought assurance regarding data storage during offline periods, and IEC Chairperson Moepya provided reassurance about the reliability of the system.