Lesotho 2002: Election technology helps to preserve stability

Heather Ford, December 4, 2002

The Information Revolution and the rapid spread of Internet technology have led to a massive proliferation of information on subjects that were previously unavailable or inaccessible in the public domain. The sharing of data across the decentralized network of the Internet enables ordinary people to arm themselves with critical data affecting their daily lives, and to make informed decisions about who should represent them. A transparent, real-time view into the nuts and bolts of the election event also enables citizens to constantly review the political process that governs them and enhances the credibility of democratic structures.

At the core of new developments in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) lies an essential focus on transparency. It is this value inherent in the nature of Internet that democratic elections can take maximum advantage of. There are, of course, other effects of technology on elections, including increasing administrative efficiency and reducing long-term costs of the process. Technology's potential to enhance transparency, however, heralds the greatest opportunity for African democracy to realize its full potential.

Elections throughout Africa are often marred by the rejection of election results by losing parties. Election tampering has advanced to include intimidation of voters, propaganda that inhibits choice, and weak voter education. On the other hand, it may be that disputes occur regardless of whether the election was 'free and fair' or not.

Lesotho prior to 2002 is a case in point and can be used to illustrate the extent to which technology has the ability to enhance the transparency of the election process.

Lesotho has a history of contested elections. Every election prior to 2002 was bitterly disputed causing considerable instability and violence in that country. One of the major sticking points in the talks leading up to the 2002 elections was in determining the voter registration method. After major conflict resolution initiatives by external actors, including the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Commonwealth, consensus was reached on most election issues, including the endorsement of the use of fingerprint technology in order to prevent double-registration and to ensure the credibility of the Voters' Roll.

According to Taunyane Putsoane of the Lesotho Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the decision to use a technologically advanced system in administering the voter registration process was highly successful and definitely worth the huge costs involved. 'In such a fragile political climate, the use of fingerprint technology proved to be worthwhile because it politically enhanced the acceptability of the elections.' The Lesotho IEC decided on using a combination of photograph, signature and fingerprints for each voter. The information was scanned and then uploaded to a central Oracle database.

South African IT Company, Arivia.com, provided the entire system for voter registration, including setting up the sites; providing software; registration of voters; capturing of biological data, fingerprint, photograph and signature onto databases; issuing of cards; and production of a voters' roll which includes the biological information, for double checking - a contract amounting to R15, 5 million.

The acceptance by all stakeholders of the resulting electronic Voters' Roll meant that the technology that was employed met the ultimate goal of being transparent enough to prevent any dispute about the procedure that was used to gather the information.

The next step would be to determine whether or not the technology is sustainable, and whether it remains in effective use by the commission after the event itself. According to Arivia.com Medial Liaison Manager, Peter Phillips, 'The system lends itself to easy maintenance and changes can easily be accommodated.' It remains to be seen, however, whether the system is maintainable and upgradeable, and whether the Basotho people are able to administer their own technology processes in the future.

The Lesotho IEC now faces the challenge of making the most of the potential of the technology for future elections when donor money will not flow as freely. After making great strides in the field of election administration technology, the Lesotho IEC now needs to examine its public function by continuing to provide all stakeholders with a continuous flow of information about Lesotho's democratic progress. If Lesotho can maintain the excellent example that it has set for the rest of the continent we could see more of what Chris Landsberg of Wits University has called 'one of the most credible, transparent, 'substantially free and fair', peaceful and orderly elections in recent African history'.