Since the late 1990s, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has partnered with the HSRC to conduct research aimed at strengthening electoral democracy. This collaboration generates both survey-based and qualitative insights to inform the Commission’s operational planning, civic education and outreach initiatives aimed at increasing voter registration and turnout. Key components include the nationally representative Voter Participation Survey (VPS), which tracks voting attitudes and behaviour, and the Election Satisfaction Survey (ESS) series, which evaluates the perceived freeness, fairness and efficiency of elections on Election Day from the perspective of the voting public. The ESS results are used by the IEC as an input in declaring the elections as free and fair.

Beyond these surveys, the IEC has also commissioned research on, among other things, political funding, the development of national and provincial Election Indicators Reports, and the feasibility of electronic voting (e-voting) in South Africa. These studies provide critical, evidence-based insights that inform policy, enhance electoral operations, and aim to encourage greater civic engagement, which in turn contributes to ongoing efforts to bring about a more responsive and inclusive democratic system.