OPINION: The criticism levelled against the IEC hampers how the institution is viewed, and further leaves it with the rather difficult task of restoring voter confidence and public trust in the midst of the manifestation of corruption in government institutions across the country, writes Lulu White.
Let us first look at some of the numbers to understand the challenge facing the IEC.
There are 23 151 voting stations that need to be contracted. Lease agreements should already be in place, as they would have been signed when the lease agreements for registration weekend were signed. While the majority of these are permanent structures, for example schools, churches, halls, there are some temporary structures with tents that need to be set up.
As soon as candidate nominations are concluded, the printing of ballot papers would need to be completed. The complexity of the required ballot is an added challenge that needs to be addressed by the IEC, because while voters only see one election on voting day, the IEC will technically be conducting 4 725 elections across the country, with voters receiving 2 or 3 ballot papers depending on where they vote.
This has been further exacerbated by the IEC’s decision to amend the election timetable, which inadvertently led to the reopening of candidate nominations as a direct cause of the amendment. The criticism levelled against the IEC hampers how the institution is viewed, and further leaves it with the rather difficult task of restoring voter confidence and public trust in the midst of the manifestation of corruption in government institutions across the country.
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