KPMG to double, and triple check elections results

KPMG has been appointed to assist the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in the verification of the 2000 local elections results. KPMG will deploy 400 staff, who will work with appointed Municipal Electoral Officers (MEOs) in 237 municipalities countrywide, to verify the accuracy of the data received from the voting stations and the data captured into the IEC network.

The process of verifying the vote-count consists of a series of checkpoints, each designed to ensure that there is no tampering with the voting results. The process starts with the political party representatives, as well as independent observers, witnessing the physical vote counting. The results are recorded on a ballot counting form, which will be signed by each representative. It will then be taken to the MEO to be verified. KPMG will check the form to ensure that the data is accurate and if a miscalculation is discovered, the matter will immediately be handed over to the MEO.

Once the form has been authenticated, the data is captured onto the IEC`s system. The auditor will retain the original forms and do a manual cross-check with a data print-out to ensure that no errors have occurred while the information was being captured.

Errol Macaulay, partner at KPMG Consulting says, "Essentially KPMG is ensuring two things. Firstly that the voter data received is correct and secondly, that the data captured is correct. This process will guarantee that the December 2000 elections are 100 percent accurate."

KPMG took two days to train their staff at their offices nation-wide in the process of vote-count authentication. Using narrow-casting television technology, which enables the user to select exactly where the television signal should be sent, training videos were distributed to KPMG`s centres throughout South Africa, which allowed training to occur concurrently. "We are confident we will achieve consistency throughout South Africa on Tuesday as the training method allowed for our staff to receive the same information, the same way, at the same time," concluded Macaulay.