The voter's voice: outcomes from the 2014 election satisfaction survey

In late 2013, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) tasked the HSRC with conducting two representative studies related to the 2014 national and provincial elections: a voter participation survey (VPS) conducted in November and December 2013, and an election satisfaction survey (ESS) conducted on election day on 7 May 2014. In this article, Benjamin Roberts, Jarè Struwig, Steven Gordon and Mercy Ngungu provide an overview of the national results emanating from the election satisfaction survey. The principal aim of the 2014 ESS was to assess opinions and perceptions of voters and election observers regarding the freeness and fairness of the electoral process. The study was also designed to evaluate the operational efficiency of the IEC in managing the 2014 national and provincial elections. This is important in determining the credibility and legitimacy of the election. The study was conducted among two groups of respondents, namely South Africans who voted in the 2014 national and provincial elections, and local and international election observers. The target population for the voter component of the study was individuals aged 18 and older who were South African citizens and who were registered as voters for the 2014 national and provincial elections. In addition, the local and international election observers visiting the selected voting stations on election day were also interviewed. This article looks specifically at the data gathered from voter interviews.