Evaluating the 1999 election Since 1994 the HSRC has conducted public opinon surveys to determine shifting patterns of support and perceptions of social issues and democracy. These surveys are condicted on a randomly selected national sample od 2200 adults. In addition the HSRC also conducts election studies. The 1999 election presented the HSRC with a number of opportunities: first, to assist the Indepentdant Electoral Commision (IEC) to ascertain the number of voters in possesion of bar-coded ID documents; second, to measure the shift in public perceptions and support in the run-up to the election; and third to conduct the first-ever exit poll, evaluating the freeness and fairness of the elections as well as the efficiency of the electoral machinary.