IEC) dashboard

IEC Election Dashboard Drama: From Crashes to Controversy

The IEC faces backlash as the election dashboard experiences technical difficulties. What caused the outage? Find out more!

The Independent Electoral Commission's (IEC) election dashboard experienced a turbulent time during the 2024 national and provincial elections. As the results poured in at the Joburg Results Operating Centre, the dashboard suddenly crashed, leaving political parties and the public in the dark. Parties demanded explanations for the mysterious outage, expressing concerns over the unexplained downtime lasting almost two hours. With over 50% of the votes already counted, the unexpected crash added tension to the unfolding election drama.

As frustration grew, the Democratic Alliance (DA) considered legal action against the IEC for the disruptions at result operation centers nationwide. The malfunction of the leaderboard at various centers intensified the scrutiny on the IEC's handling of the election process. South Africans eagerly awaiting election updates were met with disappointment as the live dashboards remained inaccessible, raising questions about the reliability of the IEC's technological infrastructure.

Interestingly, despite the challenges, the IEC swiftly restored the dashboard, bringing relief to anxious citizens and political stakeholders. The incident highlighted the importance of robust and reliable systems in the electoral process. The episode serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between technology and traditional election processes in today's digital age.