Electoral Commission on exit poll

21 April 2009

The Electoral Commission (IEC) has assigned an independent research
organisation to conduct an exit poll during Wednesday’s National and Provincial
Elections to promote transparency and accountability, as well as obtaining
feedback on matters relating to the overall electoral operations.

About 400 field workers from the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) will
interview voters and observers in 400 randomly selected voting stations in all
provinces. The commission is requesting voters to cooperate with HSRC
researchers and help as much possible.

Questions to be asked would centre around time spent queuing to vote,
accessibility of the voting station, clarity of the process to be followed
inside the voting station, knowledge of voting procedures voting officers’
understanding of electoral processes, perception of impartiality of voting
officers, perception of whether the poll was free and fair.

The IEC said that the poll was intended to assist it to improve its
operations and to learn from best practice from this year’s experience to
prepare for future elections.

A similar exit poll was conducted by the HSRC and Markinor in 2004 to assess
voter participation and perspectives on elections. This poll helped the IEC to
understand voter patterns and deal with the challenges ahead.

Last year the IEC conducted a survey to assess voter readiness and eagerness
to participate in the 2009 elections. “From this survey, valuable lessons were
gained by the IEC in terms of general preparations for each election, voter
attitudes and perspectives on electoral democracy in South Africa in general,”
said IEC Chief Electoral Officer, Adv Pansy Tlakula.

“This exit poll is intended to continue to put the IEC on the trajectory of
continuous improvement in terms of election processes,” she said.

Enquiries:
Kate Bapela
Cell: 082 600 6386

Issued by: Independent Electoral Commission
21 April 2009