Free and fair: voters’ evaluation of the 1999 election

Abstract

A representative sample survey of voters conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) on Election Day revealed that the vast majority of South African voters believe that the election was free and fair, with marginal differences in opinion between racial groups. Most voters lived in close proximity to a voting station and were able to reach it on foot. Although lengthy queues delayed voting at some voting stations, one in two voters waited for less than 30 minutes before voting. Less than 2 per cent indicated that they had been under pressure to vote for a particular party. These positive perceptions, together with the relatively high percentage poll, signal a high degree of national consensus across racial and party political divides about the legitimacy of the election process in South Africa.