IEC Web site still not ready

Johannesburg, 09 Jan 2009

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has less than a month to solve issues with its Web site - if it wants to ensure upcoming online voter registrations run smoothly. The next stage of voter registrations is scheduled for 7 and 8 February.

The IEC previously stated updates to the Web site would be completed in time for the 2009 presidential elections, which are scheduled to take place in April.

In November last year, the Web site received more than 180 000 visitors at the time of voter registration, with 46 000 hits at a time and 101 000 visitors checking their registrations and 37 000 enquiring where to register to vote in the elections. But the Web site was unable to handle these numbers and crashed during the registration weekend.

There were also complaints about the Web site, as users of Web browsers such as Netscape, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome found they could not access the site.

Interoperability

Internet professional Damien du Toit says the main problem with the Web site is that it has been exclusively designed for Internet Explorer - thereby restricting access for many users. He states that, despite complaints about the site's browser incompatibility since August 2008, the IEC has failed to correct the problem.

In November, the IEC stated it would allocate R3 million to fix the Web site - within two months. This decision was taken following complaints from users and a letter by key figures in the State IT Agency, the Shuttleworth Foundation and the open source software and open standards working group.

In the letter, the IEC was criticised for failing to adhere to the minimum interoperability standards and the policy on free and open source software which was implemented by the South African government.

Du Toit states: “It is a very old Web site and a problem is that they haven't confirmed what technology they are using and the rationale behind it.”

The IEC had not commented on the issue by the time of publication.