South Africa
Electoral Commission Act, 1996
Act 51 of 1996
- Published in Government Gazette 17478 on 4 October 1996
- Assented to on 27 September 1996
- There are multiple commencements
- [This is the version of this document from 8 May 2024.]
Provisions | Status |
---|---|
Chapter 1 (section 1–2); Chapter 2 (section 3–11); Chapter 3 (section 12–14); Chapter 4 (section 15–17); Chapter 5 (section 18–20); Chapter 6, section 21–23, section 25 | commenced on 17 October 1996 by Proclamation R64 of 1996. |
Chapter 4, section 15A | commenced on 11 July 2000. |
Chapter 4, section 15(3)(d), section 15A(2)(d), section 16(1)(b)–(c), section 16A, section 17(1)–(3) | commenced on 17 December 2003. |
Chapter 2, section 7(1)(a)–(c) | commenced on 24 June 2004. |
Chapter 5, section 20(2A); Chapter 6, section 21A | commenced on 6 March 2019. |
Chapter 2, section 7(2)(a)–(b), (2A)–(2C) | commenced on 1 April 2019. |
Chapter 4, section 15(1)(a)–(c), (i)–(iii), (4A)–(4B), (7), section 16(2)(a)–(b) | commenced on 27 August 2021. |
Chapter 6, section 24 | not yet commenced. |
- [Amended by Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act 117 of 1998) on 1 February 1999]
- [Amended by Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act, 2000 (Act 27 of 2000) on 11 July 2000]
- [Amended by Electoral Laws Amendment Act, 2003 (Act 34 of 2003) on 17 December 2003]
- [Amended by Electoral Commission Amendment Act, 2004 (Act 14 of 2004) on 24 June 2004]
- [Amended by Electoral Laws Amendment Act, 2019 (Act 1 of 2019) on 6 March 2019]
- [Amended by Determination of Remuneration of Office-bearers of Independent Constitutional Institutions Laws Amendment Act, 2014 (Act 22 of 2014) on 1 April 2019]
- [Amended by Electoral Laws Amendment Act, 2021 (Act 4 of 2021) on 27 August 2021]
- [Amended by Electoral Matters Amendment Act, 2024 (Act 14 of 2024) on 8 May 2024]
Chapter 1
Interpretation and application of Act
1. Definitions
2. Application of Act
Chapter 2
Electoral Commission
3. Establishment of Commission
4. Objects of Commission
The objects of the Commission are to strengthen constitutional democracy and promote democratic electoral processes.5. Powers, duties and functions of Commission
6. Composition of Commission and appointment of commissioners
7. Terms of office, salary, allowance and benefits, removal from office and suspension of commissioners
[heading substituted by section 7(a) of Act 22 of 2014]8. Chairperson of Commission
9. Conduct of commissioners
10. Disclosure of conflicting interests
11. Meetings of Commission
Chapter 3
Administration, staff and accountability of Commission
12. Administration and staff of Commission
13. Finances and auditing
14. Reports by Commission
Chapter 4
Registration of parties
15. Registration of parties
15A. ***
[section 15A inserted by section 93 of Act 27 of 2000, amended by section 27 of Act 34 of 2003, by section 3 of Act 1 of 2019 and repealed by section 4 of Act 4 of 2021]16. Prohibition on registration of party under certain circumstances
16A. Change of party’s name
17. Cancellation of registration of party
Chapter 5
Electoral Court
18. Establishment of Electoral Court
There is an Electoral Court for the Republic, with the status of the Supreme Court.19. Composition of Electoral Court
20. Powers, duties and functions of Electoral Court
Chapter 6
General provisions
21. Offences and penalties
21A. Restriction on use of name
22. Legal proceedings against Commission
23. Regulations
24. Repeal of laws, legal succession and transitional provision
25. Short title and commencement
This Act shall be called the Electoral Commission Act, 1996, and shall come into operation on a date fixed by the President by proclamation in the Gazette.History of this document
08 May 2024 this version
Amended by
Electoral Matters Amendment Act, 2024
27 August 2021
01 April 2019
06 March 2019
24 June 2004
17 December 2003
11 July 2000
01 February 1999
17 October 1996
Commenced by
Electoral Commission Act, 1996: Commencement
04 October 1996
27 September 1996
Assented to
Cited documents 8
Act 7
1. | Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 | 4463 citations |
2. | Public Finance Management Act, 1999 | 2251 citations |
3. | Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 | 909 citations |
4. | Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 | 597 citations |
5. | State Liability Act, 1957 | 152 citations |
6. | Electoral Act, 1993 | 46 citations |
7. | Independent Electoral Commission Amendment Act, 1993 | 2 citations |
Proclamation 1
1. | Independent Electoral Commission Amendment Proclamation, 1994 | 2 citations |
Documents citing this one 732
Gazette 656
Judgment 62
Act 13
1. | Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 | 4463 citations |
2. | Income Tax Act, 1962 | 1669 citations |
3. | Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act, 2000 | 1428 citations |
4. | Financial Intelligence Centre Act, 2001 | 776 citations |
5. | Electoral Act, 1998 | 526 citations |
6. | KwaZulu-Natal Consumer Protection Act, 2013 | 4 citations |
7. | KwaZulu-Natal Gaming and Betting Act, 2010 | 3 citations |
8. | KwaZulu-Natal Liquor Licensing Act, 2010 | 2 citations |
9. | Kwa-Zulu Natal Amafa and Research Institute Act, 2018 | 1 citation |
10. | KwaZulu-Natal Funding of Represented Political Parties Act, 2008 | 1 citation |
By-law 1
1. | Rules and Procedures of the Council and its Committee By-law, 2017 |