ActionSA expresses concern by the recent conduct of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) ahead of the by-election taking place in Ramotshere Moiloa — Ward 7, North West.
During our final campaign push, ActionSA teams engaging with residents observed IEC officials moving door-to-door on the day before the official voting day, including among special voters, where they were collecting voter information and ID numbers. When questioned about the purpose of this activity, IEC representatives claimed that they were “reminding voters to go out and vote tomorrow” and that the data was being collected to report on how many people they had spoken to.
However, this explanation raises serious red flags. The IEC has already issued the official voters’ roll, and there is no lawful justification for officials to be collecting voter ID numbers or any personal data outside the authorised registration and voting process.
We ask if the IEC’s intention was merely to monitor engagement, why are voters’ ID numbers being recorded? Such conduct not only blurs the lines between electoral administration and voter mobilisation, but it also directly compromises the integrity and independence of the IEC.
The IEC’s role is to manage elections impartially, not to participate in activities that may influence voter turnout or raise suspicions of bias.
ActionSA therefore calls on the IEC to urgently investigate this matter and identify the individuals responsible for this breach of protocol. We demand a full and transparent explanation of why voter ID data is being collected and how it will be used.
ActionSA will be lodging a formal complaint and taking the necessary steps to ensure accountability and the protection of electoral integrity in Ward 7 and across South Africa.
The credibility of our democracy depends on a truly independent IEC, one that upholds, not undermines, the public’s trust.
ActionSA Raises Serious Concerns Over IEC Conduct and Potential Voter Data Breach in Ramotshere Moiloa Ward 7 By-Election
ActionSA expresses concern by the recent conduct of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) ahead of the by-election taking place in Ramotshere Moiloa — Ward 7, North West.
During our final campaign push, ActionSA teams engaging with residents observed IEC officials moving door-to-door on the day before the official voting day, including among special voters, where they were collecting voter information and ID numbers. When questioned about the purpose of this activity, IEC representatives claimed that they were “reminding voters to go out and vote tomorrow” and that the data was being collected to report on how many people they had spoken to.
However, this explanation raises serious red flags. The IEC has already issued the official voters’ roll, and there is no lawful justification for officials to be collecting voter ID numbers or any personal data outside the authorised registration and voting process.
We ask if the IEC’s intention was merely to monitor engagement, why are voters’ ID numbers being recorded? Such conduct not only blurs the lines between electoral administration and voter mobilisation, but it also directly compromises the integrity and independence of the IEC.
The IEC’s role is to manage elections impartially, not to participate in activities that may influence voter turnout or raise suspicions of bias.
ActionSA therefore calls on the IEC to urgently investigate this matter and identify the individuals responsible for this breach of protocol. We demand a full and transparent explanation of why voter ID data is being collected and how it will be used.
ActionSA will be lodging a formal complaint and taking the necessary steps to ensure accountability and the protection of electoral integrity in Ward 7 and across South Africa.
The credibility of our democracy depends on a truly independent IEC, one that upholds, not undermines, the public’s trust.