Elections 2021: At least 94% of voters believe local polls were free, fair – survey

A survey by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has revealed that voters were overwhelmingly confident that the 2021 Local Government Elections were free and fair. According to the survey, 95% of sampled voters feel that the election procedures were free. Provincially, this ranges from 90% in the Western Cape to 98% in Mpumalanga. While 94% of the voters are of the opinion that the election procedures were fair. Provincially, this figure varies between 90% in the Western Cape and 99% in Mpumalanga.

A sample of 300 voting stations across the country were selected to take part in the study. In order to ensure representative data from each province, the distribution of the voting stations and the number of interviews at the voting stations will be proportional to the Electoral Commission’s distribution of registered voters. At each
voting station, 50 voters were expected to be interviewed during the course of the day.

Municipal elections: Voters pleased with IEC’s performance

The HSRC survey has also shown that 96% of voters were satisfied with the quality of service they received from IEC staff, while only 3% of the voters expressed a neutral position and 1% were not satisfied. Provincially, satisfaction ranged between 93% in North West and Gauteng and 98% in Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

“Voters were asked to rate 7 aspects of the conduct of IEC officials at their voting station. Overall, there was a very positive assessment of officials. They rated officials as extremely helpful (81%), friendly (80%), patient (80%), honest (79%), professional (78%), interested in their jobs (78%), and impartial (69%),” the results read.

As far as safety and security is concerned, 93% of voters voiced their satisfaction, while 2% were discontent and 4% were neutral or uncertain – incidents of political violence ahead of the municipal elections prompted concerns as to how safe voters would be on election day.

“Satisfaction with this dimension of the electoral experience ranged between 89% in Gauteng and 98% in Northern Cape and Mpumalanga,” the survey also found.