Voter Registration Systems Readiness for Registration Weekend
Prepare for registration weekends and elections with enhanced VMD system operating on Android 11 and online voter registration abroad capability. Dry-run tests focus on ICT systems, VMD functionality, network performance, and security.
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Registration Weekend Readiness Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs 14 November 2023
Content Content System Enhancements and Readiness VMD readiness Online registration abroad Dry Run Review Registration Staff Readiness Recruitment Training Voting Stations Readiness Outreach and Communication 2
Systems Enhancement and readiness Systems Enhancement and readiness VMD (Voter Registration Device) Enhancements Operating System (OS) upgraded to Android 11 =100% Offline mode 100% Will allow for the machine to operate without connectivity or poor connectivity. APPs optimised to default to offline in cases where connection can t be established with databases for whatever reason. In offline mode the data is stored on the device and only transmitted when a stable connection has been established to the network, and where connection to databases has been restored. 3
Registration Abroad Registration Abroad Online voter registration capability for registration abroad finalised and ready for deployment. Enhancements will be progressively introduced to the image recognition element to increase the success rate of image recognition (passport and ID documents). 3 consecutive days planned for voter registration abroad in January 2024. 4
The Dry-run REVIEW 5
Purpose of Dry Purpose of Dry - -Run Run 1. To test ICT systems and supporting infrastructure ahead of the registration weekends and elections. 2. To test VMDs functionality and operation of the APPs (Voter Registration, Voting Station Monitoring and Staff Attendance.) 3. To establish the proficiency of registration staff. 6
TARGETS 7
Dry Dry- -Run Tests Run Tests 1. Monitoring VMD traffic and related system performances. 2. Monitoring security alerts. 3. Monitoring network performance, focusing on connectivity lines, focusing on capacity and utilization of lines to identify bottlenecks and poor performance around the following: MPLS network Connectivity to the WAN (The Telkom lines that connects IEC offices and the datacentre.) APN Services (simcard) Connectivity to Vodacom for VMD services Internet Services- Connectivity to the internet through Vox Telecomm Connectivity to Disaster Recovery 4. Monitoring critical servers. 8
CHALLENGES CHALLENGES Three broad challenge were identified during the dry-run: 1. The volume of read and write requests from and to the database caused a flat lining of database resources. (This was the element that could not be tested during the simulation) Two issues were identified from this: A. Optimization of stored procedures was required to deal with the load. B. That the applications did not make provision for automatically switching over to offline mode in instances of non response from the database. 2. The internet line was monitored and proven to have problems, the issue was logged with the service provider Vox Telecomm. This raised issues about thresholds for triggering fail-over to alternative backup lines. 3. The MPLS (Telkom) line connecting national office WAN was observed to be dropping packets even though it was operating at less than 60% of capacity. Telkom has identified the problem and remediation was implemented on 7 November 2023. (Router replacement). 9
Finding of Dry- Run 1. Vodacom APN (sim card connection for private network) worked and its capacity was not overloaded at any time during the dry run. 2. Offline functionality worked as planned and optimization to include offline in instances of non response from the database. 3. Apps functioned seamlessly. 4. Upload of offline records came in at a very high throughput. 5. High participation rate at voting station level was a realistic test of our infrastructure right down to the voting district level. 10
REGISTRATIONS TIME SCANNED VS TIME PROCESSED 375,944 400,000 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Scanned 2,499 44,070 189,776174,379121,768105,479 29,232 5,362 949 162 28 Processed 1,304 6,552 86,571 24,498 375,944134,938 33,953 6,434 2,000 655 158 11
Challenge Resolution Stored optimised to deal with load on database. Enhancement published to kiosk to ensure that henceforth VMD will go to offline mode if there are ANY response delays up to 5 seconds on the database. Thresholds for triggering fail-over to backup line addressed. Source of identified Telkom equipment. Router was replaced November 2023. VMD apps stalling as a result of stored process procedures Internet Line problems Multi- Protocol Line Switching (WAN) problem outdated as on 7 12
Registration Staffing Registration Staffing - - Reg 1 Reg 1 14
Registration Training Registration Training Total to be Trained) 69 888 Trained (2 November) 69 097 Still to be trained 791 The names of registration officers have been provided to parties in the political liaison committee to facilitate objections in term of the recruitment criteria, if officers are deemed non suitable to perform the roles. 15
Voting Station Readiness 16
Voting station Surveys Voting station Surveys TOTAL VD COUNT COMPLETED % COMPLETED Eastern Cape 4 868 4 857 99.8% Free State 1 582 1 582 100.0% Gauteng 2 799 2 792 99.7% KwaZulu-Natal 4 973 4 936 99.3% Limpopo 3 223 3 222 100.0% Mpumalanga 1 811 1 794 99.1% North West 1 737 1 734 99.8% Northern Cape 731 722 98.8% Western Cape 1 572 1 571 99.9% Grand Total 23 296 23 210 99.6% 3 November 2023 17
Voting station Leases Voting station Leases Generated Captured Linked Total VD Count 4868 Province NO 1 YES % Generated NO YES % Captured NO YES % Linked Eastern Cape 4867 99,98% 1 4867 99,98% 2 4866 99,96% Free State 1582 1582 100,00% 2 1580 99,87% 2 1580 99,87% Gauteng 2799 2799 100,00% 1 2798 99,96% 8 2791 99,71% KwaZulu-Natal 1 4973 4972 99,98% 2 4971 99,96% 5 4968 99,90% Limpopo 3223 3223 100,00% 1 3222 99,97% 1 3222 99,97% Mpumalanga 1811 1811 100,00% 10 1801 99,45% 9 1802 99,50% North West 1 1737 1736 99,94% 2 1735 99,88% 2 1735 99,88% Northern Cape 1 731 730 99,86% 2 729 99,73% 2 729 99,73% Western Cape 1 1572 1571 23291 99,94% 99,98% 2 23 1570 23273 99,87% 99,90% 7 38 1565 23258 99,55% 99,46% Grand Total 5 23296 18
Registration Materials Registration Materials ITEM DESCRIPTION STATUS ID Stickers Combo Pack Delivery completed Stationery Packs Delivery completed VS Arrow Signs Delivery completed Document Storage Box with Lid Delivery completed Cardboard Furniture (Tables and Chairs) Delivery completed Box Files Collapsible Delivery completed Voters Roll Delivery completed 19
Outreach and Communication 20
Theme of Campaign Theme of Campaign Elections Launched on 24 October and campaign unveiled. The theme of the campaign Democracy Own It Theme intended to rekindle individual agency, by reminding citizens that democracy belongs to them and that they should take charge and ownership. being YOUR 21
Messaging for Registration Messaging for Registration Weekend Weekend Messages carried on combination of: TV (SABC, DSTV, Community TV, eTV, eNCA) Radio Print Out of Home Advertising Contact Centre Digital channels. The choice of platforms is based on research which indicates that TV and Radio are still the predominant channels of preference for receiving information. 22
VOTER REGISTRATION WEEKEND PLACEMENT - PRINT 54 Insertions National Community 71 Insertions 1
VOTER REGISTRATION WEEKEND PLACEMENT - OOH Billboa rds 119 Wall Murals 69 ATMs 350 OOH Digital Screen s 76 1
VOTER REGISTRATION WEEKEND PLACEMENT - DIGITAL Social Media - Banners - Videos - Teasers - Registration Drive Content / Promotion Website - Banners Digital Placement - Banners - Videos - Stories - SMS / Please Call -Home Page Take Overs 1
Digital Platforms Presence A considerable part of our voter education and community mobilisation also takes place on the following digital platforms: 26
