Call for hi-tech voting in SA

Gilat Satellite SA has called for SA to look at introducing more technology to the election process.

Speaking at the e-government forum as part of the seventh annual African Computing and Telecommunications Summit in Sandton, Gilat Satellite SA`s Africa manager, Wayne McDonald, said: "The way we run elections in Africa is similar to the way we conducted banking transactions 45 years ago."

McDonald said while SA had embraced technology in banking and other sectors, the country`s election process still involves manual processes.

He noted that it is time the country considers using technology to make democratic elections easier and faster while retaining high security levels. Addressing the issue of security around voting, McDonald said African countries can learn a lot from the way national lotteries are conducted. In the case of SA, it may not only be the case of using the same level of security, but the same infrastructure if possible.

McDonald presented the option of using VSAT technology to facilitate e-voting. However, he argued that this may not be cost-effective in connecting all the voter stations together. He added that a hybrid of technologies, including WiFi, could be used to complete VSAT usage. VSAT technology offers superior economics, is reliable and can be deployed in a timely manner. It also provides for multicast content distribution, which allows for the content to be distributed to all the voter stations at the same time, he said.

McDonald cited a case study in Venezuela, where Gilat set up 3 000 polling stations in 45 days.

Forum participants raised some of the potential challenges in the implementation of such a system in their countries. Primary and common to all was the issue of governments` willingness to see such a change take place, especially where the incumbent government may not wish to encourage a solution that is not easy to tamper with for their benefit.

McDonald conceded that it could take time for people to feel comfortable with the idea of e-voting and for it to actually happen. However, if stakeholders put their minds to what solutions may be suitable to their environments and instituted discussions at various forums, a solution will emerge, he said.

Conference delegates also pointed out that implementing technology solutions for the sake of technology is a waste of resources. It is therefore important that citizens` needs and concerns be taken into consideration before programmes are implemented, they said.

A delegate from Nigeria was concerned about people`s willingness to use e-voting technology, as their cultural beliefs may prohibit it. There are also health considerations, as people may not wish to use a touch-screen that thousands of other people have used.

Another inhibitor is that those with low literacy levels may fear using the technology. However, McDonald argued that the technology should be easy to use: a thumbprint for identification, then using a touch-screen selection for visually illustrated choices.

"We should look for a solution that accommodates the needs of people who are often afraid of what they don`t understand," he said.

Participants agreed that education is key, as once people have knowledge of how technologies can improve their lives, they will be more eager to adopt them. They will also be in a position to challenge their governments where there is a lack of will to change.

The e-government forum discussions will continue until Friday, and will cover issues like the African Internet, open source, ICT clustering and business processes, and enterprise solutions.