Electoral Act, 1998

Act 73 of 1998

This is the latest version of this Act.

Citation

Act 73 of 1998

Date

Language

English

Type

Act

Collections

Subject areas
- Public administration

Electoral Act, 1998

Act 73 of 1998

Published in Government Gazette 19351 on 14 October 1998
Assented to on 12 October 1998
There are multiple commencements

Provisions	Status
Chapter 1, section 1–2, section 3(a)–(b), section 4; Chapter 2 (section 5–16); Chapter 3 (section 17–34); Chapter 4 (section 35–57); Chapter 5 (section 58–59); Chapter 6 (section 60–86); Chapter 7 (section 87–118)	commenced on 16 October 1998 by Proclamation R104 of 1998.
Chapter 2, section 7(3)	commenced on 11 July 2000.
Chapter 1, section 3(1)–(2); Chapter 2, section 6(1A), section 8(2)(f), section 16(3)–(4); Chapter 3, Part 2, section 24A–24B; Part 5, section 33(1)(c)–(d); Chapter 4, Part 1, section 36(1)(a)–(b), section 38(5)(aA); Part 4, section 55(1)(a)–(b); Part 6 (section 57A); Chapter 6, Part 1, section 63A; Part 2, section 64(1A), (6), section 66(3), section 67(4)–(5); Chapter 7, Part 4, section 103A, section 104(1)–(2)	commenced on 17 December 2003.
Chapter 3, Part 5, section 33(1)(e)	commenced on 31 December 2003.
Chapter 1, section 3(c); Chapter 3, Part 5, section 33(3)–(6), section 33A	commenced on 26 November 2013.
Chapter 3, Part 1, section 20(1A); Part 2, section 24(1A); Part 3, section 28(3)(a)–(b); Chapter 4, Part 1, section 38(8), section 40(3)–(4), section 41(1A), (5A); Chapter 7, Part 1, section 87(1)(g)	commenced on 6 March 2019.
Chapter 2, section 16(2)(a)–(b), (5); Chapter 3, Part 3, section 27(4); Part 5, section 33(4A); Chapter 7, Part 4, section 99(1A)	commenced on 27 August 2021.
Chapter 3, Part 3, section 27(2)(cA)–(cB); Part 3A (section 31A–31F); Chapter 7, Part 4, section 99(1)(c), section 106(1A)	commenced on 19 June 2023.

[This is the version of this document from 8 May 2024.]

[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 Laws Second Amendment Act, 2003 (Act 40 of 2003) on 31 December 2003]
[Amended by General Laws (Loss of Membership of National Assembly, Provincial Legislature or Municipal Council) Amendment Act, 2008 (Act 55 of 2008) on 17 April 2009]
[Amended by Electoral Amendment Act, 2013 (Act 18 of 2013) on 26 November 2013]
[Amended by Electoral Laws Amendment Act, 2019 (Act 1 of 2019) on 6 March 2019]
[Amended by Electoral Laws Amendment Act, 2021 (Act 4 of 2021) on 27 August 2021]
[Amended by Electoral Amendment Act, 2023 (Act 1 of 2023) on 19 June 2023]
[Amended by Electoral Matters Amendment Act, 2024 (Act 14 of 2024) on 8 May 2024]

(English text signed by the President.)ACTTo regulate elections of the National Assembly, the provincial legislatures and municipal councils; and to provide for related matters.BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa as follows:—

Chapter 1
Interpretation, application and administration of Act

1. Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates—"agent" means a person appointed in terms of section 58;"candidate" means a South African citizen contesting an election, or a South African citizen nominated on a list of a party contesting an election, as the context requires;[definition of "candidate" inserted by section 1(a) of Act 1 of 2023]"chief electoral officer" means the person appointed in terms of section 12(1) of the Electoral Commission Act and includes any person designated to act in that capacity in terms of section 12(3) of that Act;"Code" means a Code issued by the Commission under section 99, and includes the Electoral Code of Conduct;"Commission" means the Electoral Commission, established by section 3 of the Electoral Commission Act;"constitution" means the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,1996;[definition of "constitution" inserted by section 1(b) of Act 1 of 2023]"counter" means a person appointed in terms of section 78;"counting officer" means a person appointed in terms of section 76;"election" means—(a)an election of the National Assembly;(b)an election of a provincial legislature; of(c)an election of a municipal council or a by-election for a municipal council;"election timetable" means a timetable for an election published by the Commission in terms of section 20;"Electoral Code of Conduct" means the Code contained in Schedule 2;"Electoral Commission Act" means the Electoral Commission Act, 1996 (Act No. 51 of 1996);"Electoral Court" means the Court established by section 18 of the Electoral Commission Act;"identity document" means an identity card issued in terms of the Identification Act, 1997 (Act No. 68 of 1997);[definition of "identity document" substituted by section 1(a) of Act 18 of 2013]"independent candidate" means a South African citizen contesting an election and who is not nominated on a list of a party;[definition of "independent candidate" inserted by section 1(c) of Act 1 of 2023]"list of candidates" means the list of candidates referred to in section 27;"list of independent candidates" means the list of independent candidates referred to in sections 31D and 31F;[definition of "list of independent candidates" inserted by section 1(d) of Act 1 of 2023]"municipal council" means a municipal council referred to in Chapter 7 of the Constitution;"officer" means—(a)a presiding officer;(b)a voting officer,(c)a counting officer;(d)a counter; orany natural person appointed in terms of section 80;"party liaison committee" [definition of "party liaison committee" deleted by section 1(e) of Act 1 of 2023]"political liaison committee" means a committee established in terms of the Regulations on Political Liaison Committees published in terms of the Electoral Commission Act;[definition of "political liaison committee" inserted by section 1(f) of Act 1 of 2023]"political office", in relation to a registered party, means any office in the party to which a representative of the party is elected or nominated, whether involving remuneration or not, or any other paid office in the party to which a person is appointed;"prescribe" means prescribe by regulation in terms of section 100 and "prescribed" has a corresponding meaning;"prescribed manner" includes any prescribed requirement as to time, process or form;"presiding officer" means a person appointed in terms of section 72;"province" means a province referred to in section 103 of the Constitution;[definition of "province" inserted by section 1(g) of Act 1 of 2023]"region" means the territorial area of a province;[definition of "region" inserted by section 1(g) of Act 1 of 2023]"registered party" means a party registered in terms of section 15 of the Electoral Commission Act;"security services" means the services as defined in section 199 of the Constitution;"serve" means to send by registered post, electronic mail, telegram, telex, telefax or to deliver by hand;[definition of "serve" substituted by section 30 of Act 14 of 2024]"South African passport" means a passport issued in terms of the South African Passports and Travel Documents Act, 1994 (Act No.4 of 1994).[definition of "South African passport" inserted by section 1(b) of Act 18 of 2013]"this Act" includes any regulations made in terms of section 100;"voter" means a South African citizen—(a)who is 18 years old or older; and(b)whose name appears on the voters’ roll;"voters’ roll" means the national common voters’ roll compiled in terms of section 5;"voting day" means the day on which voting in an election takes place or is to take place;[definition of "voting day" inserted by section 7 of Act 4 of 2021]"voting district" means a voting district established in terms of section 60;"voting officer" means a person appointed in terms of section 74;"voting station" means any voting station established in terms of section 64.

2. Interpretation of this Act

Every person interpreting or applying this Act must—

(a)do so in a manner that gives effect to the constitutional declarations, guarantees and responsibilities contained in the Constitution; and

(b)take into account any appropriate Code.

3. Application of Act

(1)This Act applies to every election of the National Assembly and of a provincial legislature.

(2)This Act applies to an election of a municipal council or a by-election for such council only to the extent stated in the Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act, 2000 (Act No. 27 of 2000).

[section 3 substituted by section 1 of Act 34 of 2003]

4. Administration of this Act

The Commission must administer this Act.

Chapter 2
Registration of voters, and voters’ roll

5. National common voters’ roll

The chief electoral officer must compile and maintain a national common voters’ roll.

6. Persons who may apply for registration as voter

(1)Any South African citizen in possession of an identity document may apply for registration as a voter: Provided that where that citizen is ordinarily resident outside the Republic, he or she must in addition to the identity document produce a valid South African passport.[subsection (1) substituted by section 2 of Act 18 of 2013]

(1A)A person of 16 years or older may apply for registration but, if the application is successful, the applicant’s name may only be placed on the voters’ roll once the applicant reaches the age of 18 years.[subsection (1A) inserted by section 2 of Act 34 of 2003]

(2)For the purposes of the general registration of voters Contemplated in section 14, an identity document includes a temporary certificate in a form which corresponds materially with a form prescribed by the Minister of Home Affairs by notice in the Government Gazette and issued by the Director-General of Home Affairs to a South African citizen from particulars contained in the population register and who has applied for an identity document.

7. Applications for registration as voter

(1)A person applying for registration as a voter must do so in the prescribed manner.[subsection (1) substituted by section 3 of Act 34 of 2003, by section 3(a) of Act 18 of 2013 and by section 6 of Act 1 of 2019]

(2)[subsection (2) substituted by section 3 of Act 34 of 2003 and deleted by section 3(b) of Act 18 of 2013]

(3)

(a)A person is regarded to be ordinarily resident at the home or place where that person normaily lives and to which that person regularly returns after any period of temporary absence.

(b)For the purpose of registration on the voters’ roll a person is not regarded to be ordinarily resident at a place where that person is lawfully imprisoned or detained, but at the last home or place where that person normally lived when not imprisoned or detained.

[subsection (3) added by section 93 of Act 27 of 2000]

8. Registration

(1)If satisfied that a person’s application for registration complies with this Act, and that the person is a South African citizen and is at least 18 years of age, the chief electoral officer must register that person as a voter by making the requisite entries in the voters’ roll.

(2)The chief electoral officer may not register a person as a voter if that person—

(a)has applied for registration fraudulently or otherwise than in the prescribed manner;

(b)[paragraph (b) deleted by section 4 of Act 34 of 2003]

(c)has been declared by the High Court to be of unsound mind or mentally disordered;

(d)is detained under the Mental Health Care Act, 2002 (Act No.17 of 2002);[paragraph (d) substituted by section 4(a) of Act 18 of 2013]

(e)[paragraph (e) deleted by section 4 of Act 34 of 2003]

(f)[paragraph (f) deleted by section 4(b) of Act 18 of 2013]

(3)A person’s name must be entered in the voters’ roll only for a voting district within the ward in which that person is ordinarily resident: Provided that where that person is ordinarily resident outside the Republic, his or her name must be entered in a segment of the voters' roll created for that purpose.[subsection (3) substituted by section 4(c) of Act 18 of 2013 and by section 7 of Act 1 of 2019]

[section 8 substituted by section 4 of Act 34 of 2003]

9. Applications to change registration details

(1)A registered voter or person who has applied for registration as a voter and whose name or ordinary place of residence has changed, must apply in the prescribed manner to have that change recorded in the voters’ roll or in that person’s application.

(2)No one need to apply when a change of name results from a change in marital status.

(3)If satisfied that a person’s application complies with this Act, the chief electoral officer must record the change in the voters’ roll or application.

10. Applications for deregistration as voter

(1)A registered voter may apply for deregistration as a voter in the prescribed manner.

(2)On receipt of an application for deregistration as a voter, the chief electoral officer must remove the applicant’s name from the voters’ roll.

11. Amendments to voters’ roll by chief electoral officer

(1)The chief electoral officer must—

(a)change the registration details of a voter, if the chief electoral officer is satisfied that the details of that voter as reflected in the voters’ roll are incorrect or have changed; or

(b)deregister a voter, if the chief electoral officer is satisfied that that voter does not qualify or no longer qualifies for registration.

(2)The chief electoral officer must record in the voters’ roll or in a person’s application any change in voting district for which a person is registered as a voter or has applied for registration, if that person’s place of ordinary residence after a change in the boundaries of that voting district falls in another ward.[subsection (2) substituted by section 8 of Act 1 of 2019]

12. Notification by chief electoral officer

(1)The chief electoral officer must notify, in the prescribed manner, a person—

(a)whose application in terms of section 7 for registration as a voter has been refused;

(b)whose application in terms of section 9 to have a change of name or ordinary place of residence recorded, has been refused;

(c)who has been deregistered as a voter in terms of section 11; or

(d)whose registration details have been changed in. terms of section 11.

(2)The notification must give reasons for the refusal or step concerned.

13. Appeal against decisions and steps of chief electoral officer

(1)A person mentioned in section 12(1) who feels aggrieved by a decision or step taken by the chief electoral officer in terms of section 8, 9, or 11, may appeal to the Commission against that decision or step in the prescribed manner.

(2)The Commission, in the prescribed manner, must consider and decide the appeal and notify the appellant and chief electoral officer of the decision.

(3)No appeal may be brought against the decision of the Commission, subject to section 20(2)(a) of the Electoral Commission Act.

14. General registration of voters

(1)The Commission must, for the compilation of the voters’ roll contemplated in section 5, conduct a general registration of voters.

(2)The Commission may prescribe cut-off dates in respect of the general registration of voters and the compilation of the voters’ roll, including the date by which—

(a)any person who wants to be included in the voters’ roll must haye applied for registration as a voter in terms of section 7 or for the change of registration details in terms of section 9;

(b)the chief electoral officer must notify a person in terms of section 12;

(c)an appellant must note an appeal in terms of section 13;

(d)the Commission must consider and decide the appeal and notify the appellant and the chief electoral officer of the decision;

(e)the chief electoral officer must give notice of the periods during which and the venues where a provisionally compiled voters’ roll will be available for inspection;

(f)any objections in terms of section 15 in respect of a provisionally compiled voters’ roll must be made;

(g)the Commission must decide an objection made in terms of section 15 and notify the objector and the chief electoral officer and a person other than the objector whose name or registration details are involved; and

(h)the chief electoral officer must complete the compilation of the voters’ roll and publish it.

15. Objections to voters’ roll

(1)In relation to any segment of the voters’ roll or a provisionally compiled voters’ roll, any person may object to the Commission in the prescribed manner to—

(a)the exclusion of any person’s name from that segment;

(b)the inclusion of any person’s name in that segment; or

(c)the correctness of any person’s registration details in that segment.

(2)A person who objects to the exclusion or inclusion of the name of another person, or to the correctness of that person’s registration details, must serve notice of the objection on that person.

(3)The Commission must decide an objection and, except for an objection in relation to a provisionally compiled voters’ roll, by not later than 14 days after the objection was made, notify the following persons of the decision:

(a)The person who made the objection;

(b)the chief electoral officer; and

(c)in the case of an objection against the exclusion or inclusion of the name, or the correctness of the registration details, of a person other than the objector, that other person.

(4)The chief electoral officer must give effect to a decision of the Commission in terms of subsection (3) within three days.

(5)No appeal may be brought against the Commission’s decision, subject to section 20(2)(a) of the Electoral Commission Act.

16. Publication and copies of voters’ roll

(1)A copy of the voters’ roll as it exists at any time must be available for inspection during office hours at the Commission’s head office, and the provincial and municipal segments of the voters’ roll must be available for inspection at the times and venues mentioned in a notice published by the chief electoral officer in the Government Gazette.

(2)The chief electoral officer must provide a certified copy of, or extract from, a segment of the voters’ roll as it exists at that time, to any person who has paid the prescribed fee, if the chief electoral officer is satisfied that—

(a)the person requires that information—

(i)to monitor the voters’ roll for election purposes;

(ii)for statistical or research purposes; or

(iii)any other purpose that is prescribed; and

(b)providing that information would not involve the unlawful processing of personal information in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act No. 4 of 2013).

[subsection (2) substituted by section 8(a) of Act 4 of 2021]

(2A)Any person who uses the information obtained under subsection (2), for a purpose other than that specified in that subsection, is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both a fine and such imprisonment.[subsection (2A) inserted by section 8(b) of Act 4 of 2021]

(3)Notwithstanding subsection (2), the chief electoral officer must, on payment of the prescribed fee, provide copies of the voters’ roll, or a segment thereof, which includes the addresses of voters, where such addresses are available, to a registered party and an independent candidate contesting the elections.[subsection (3) added by section 5 of Act 34 of 2003 and substituted by section 8(c) of Act 4 of 2021]

(4)The information obtained in terms of subsection (3) may only be used by a registered party and an independent candidate for election purposes and any person using such information for other purposes is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both a fine and such imprisonment.[subsection (4) added by section 5 of Act 34 of 2003 and substituted by section 8(d) of Act 4 of 2021]

(5)For the purposes of subsections (2) and (3), the chief electoral officer may only provide the digits of the identity numbers of voters, which indicate the voters’ date of birth and citizenship, except where the person who requires the information satisfies the chief electoral officer that—

(a)exceptional circumstances require that additional digits of the voters’ identity number be disclosed; and

(b)providing that information would not involve the unlawful processing of personal information in terms of the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act No. 4 of 2013).

[subsection (5) added by section 8(e) of Act 4 of 2021]

Chapter 3
Proclamation of and preparations for elections

Part 1 – Proclamation of elections

17. Proclamation of elections of National Assembly

(1)Whenever the President or Acting President calls an election of the National Assembly the proclamation concerned must set a single day and date for voting.

(2)The voting day must be determined after consultation with the Commission.

18. Proclamation of elections of provincial legislatures

(1)Whenever the President or the Premier or Acting Premier of a province calls an election of the provincial legislature the proclamation concerned must set a single day and date for voting.

(2)The voting day must be determined after consultation with the Commission.

19. ***

[section 19 repealed by section 6 of Act 34 of 2003]

20. Election timetables

(1)The Commission must after consultation with the national political liaison committee—

(a)compile an election timetable for each election substantially in accordance with Schedule 1; and

(b)publish the election timetable in the Government Gazette.

[subsection (1) amended by section 2 of Act 1 of 2023]

(1A)The election timetable may include any other matter authorised in terms of this Act.[subsection (1A) inserted by section 9 of Act 1 of 2019]

(2)The Commission may amend the election timetable by notice in the Government Gazette—

(a)if it considers it necessary for a free and fair election; or

(b)if the voting day is postponed in terms of section 21.

21. General postponement of elections

(1)The Commission may request the person who called an election to postpone the voting day for that election, provided the Commission is satisfied that—

(a)the postponement is necessary for ensuring a free and fair election; and

(b)the voting day for the election will still fall within the period as required by the Constitution or national or provincial legislation thereunder.

(2)If the person to whom the request is made accedes to the request, that person, by proclamation or notice in the Government Gazette, must postpone the voting day for the election to a day determined by that person, but that day must fall within the period referred to in subsection (1)(b).

22. Postponement of voting at voting station

(1)If it is not reasonably possible to conduct a free and fair election at a voting station on the proclaimed voting day, the Commission may at any time before the voting at a voting station has commenced, postpone voting at that voting station.

(2)A postponement in terms of subsection (1) must be—

(a)effected in the prescribed manner;

(b)to a day that would still fall within the period referred to in section 21(1)(b); and

(c)publicised in the media considered appropriate so as to ensure wide publicity of the postponement of the voting day at that voting station.

23. Revote at voting station

(1)If ballot papers used in an election at a voting station are lost destroyed or unlawfully removed before the votes cast at the voting station have been counted or the provisional result for that voting station has been determined and announced, the Commission may allow a revote at that voting station.

(2)A revote at a voting station must be—

(a)conducted on a date that would still fall within the period referred to in section 21(1)(b);

(b)publicised in the media considered appropriate so as to ensure wide publicity of the date determined for the revote; and

(c)conducted in accordance with a procedure prescribed by the Commission which is consistent with the principles provided for in Chapter 4.

Part 2 – Voters' roll

24. Voters’ roll for election

(1)The voters’ roll, or the segments of the voters’ roll that must be used for an election, are those certified by the chief electoral officer in terms of subsection (2).[subsection (1) substituted by section 10(a) of Act 1 of 2019]

(1A)Except where this Act otherwise permits, only a voter who applied for registration prior to the proclamation of an election date may vote in the election concerned.[subsection (1A) inserted by section 10(b) of Act 1 of 2019]

(2)By not later than the relevant date stated in the election time table, the chief electoral officer must certify the voters’ roll or the segments of the voters’ roll to be used in that election and publish it by making it available for inspection at the following venues:

(a)At the Commission’s head office, the segments for all voting districts in which the election will take place;

(b)in each province, at the office of the Commission’s provincial representative, the segments for all voting districts in the province in which the election will take place; and

(c)at the office of each municipality, the segments for all voting districts in that municipality in which the election will take place.

24A. Voting in voting district where voter not registered

A voter who is unable, on voting day, to cast his or her vote at the voting station in the voting district where he or she is registered may, in the prescribed manner, notify the chief electoral officer by no later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable of his or her intention to cast a vote in another specified voting district within the Republic on voting day: Provided that such voter may only vote in the election for the regional seats in the National Assembly in terms of Schedule 1A and for the provincial legislature if that specified voting district is situated in a province within which the voter is registered.[section 24A inserted by section 7 of Act 34 of 2003, substituted by section 9 of Act 4 of 2021 and by section 31 of Act 14 of 2024]

24B. Prisoners

(1)In an election for the National Assembly or a provincial legislature, a person who on election day is in prison and whose name appears on the voters’ roll for another voting district, is deemed for that election day to have been registered by his or her name having been entered on the voters’ roll for the voting district in which he or she is in prison.[subsection (1) substituted by section 5(a) of Act 18 of 2013]

(2)[subsection (2) deleted by section 5(b) of Act 18 of 2013]

[section 24B inserted by section 7 of Act 34 of 2003]

25. Voters’ roll for first elections of National Assembly and provincial legislatures

(1)Section 24 does not apply in respect of the first election of the National Assembly and the first election of a provincial legislature referred to in items 6(3)(a) and 11(1)(a) of Schedule 6 to the Constitution, respectively.

(2)The voters' roll that must be used for the elections referred to in subsection (1) is the voters’ roll compiled by the chief electoral officer in terms of section 5 and published by that officer by the date referred to in section 14(2)(h).

Part 3 – Parties contesting election, and lists of candidates

26. Requirements for parties to contest election

A party may contest an election only if that party—

(a)is a registered party; and

(b)has submitted a list of candidates in terms of section 27.

27. Submission of lists of candidates

(1)A registered party intending to contest an election must nominate candidates and submit a list or lists of those candidates for that election to the chief electoral officer in the prescribed manner by not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable.

(2)The list or lists must be accompanied by a prescribed—

(a)undertaking, signed by the duly authorised representative of the party, binding the party, persons holding political office in the party, and its representatives and members, to the Code;

(b)declaration, signed by the duly authorised representative of the party, that each candidate on the list is qualified to stand for election in terms of the Constitution or national or provincial legislation under Chapter 7 of the Constitution and has signed the prescribed acceptance of nomination;[paragraph (b) substituted by section 10(a) of Act 4 of 2021]

(c)[paragraph (c) deleted by section 10(b) of Act 4 of 2021]

(cA)declaration, signed by the duly authorised representative of the party confirming that each candidate appearing on the party’s provincial list of candidates referred to in Schedule 1A is registered to vote within the province in which the election will take place;[paragraph (cA) inserted by section 3 of Act 1 of 2023]

(cB)form, in the case of a registered party not represented in the National Assembly or any provincial legislature, confirming that the party has submitted, in the prescribed manner, the names, identity numbers and signatures of voters whose names appear—

(i)in the case of an election of the National Assembly in respect of regional seats, on the national segment of the voters’ roll and who support the party—

(aa)totalling 15 percent of the quota for that region in the preceding election, when nominating candidates for one region; or

(bb)totalling 15 percent of the highest of the regional quotas in the preceding election, when nominating candidates for more than one region provided that where 15 percent of the highest of the quotas is not achieved, that the party may only nominate candidates for the region or regions as determined by the next highest quota; or

(ii)in the case of an election of a provincial legislature, on the segment of the voter's roll for the province and who support the party, totalling at least 15 percent of the quota of that province in the preceding election, for which the party intends to nominate candidates;

[paragraph (cB) inserted by section 3 of Act 1 of 2023]

(d)undertaking signed by each candidate, that that candidate will be bound by the Code; and

(e)deposit.

(3)

(a)The Commission may prescribe the amount to be deposited in terms of subsection (2)(e).

(b)The amount to be deposited by a registered party contesting an election of a provincial legislature, must be less than the amount for contesting an election of the National Assembly.

(4)Upon request by the Commission, a party must, in the prescribed manner and form, submit an acceptance of nomination signed by a candidate appearing on a party list submitted by that party.[subsection (4) added by section 10(c) of Act 4 of 2021]

28. Non-compliance concerning submission of lists of candidates

(1)If a registered party that has submitted a list of candidates has not fully complied with section 27(2)(a), (b), (cA),(d) or section 27(4), the chief electoral officer must notify that party of its non-compliance.[subsection (1) substituted by section 11(a) of Act 4 of 2021 and by section 4 of Act 1 of 2023]

(2)The notification must be given in the prescribed manner by not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable, and must indicate that the party has an opportunity to comply with section 27(2)(a), (b),(cA),(d) or section 27(4), by not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable.[subsection (2) substituted by section 11(b) of Act 4 of 2021 and by section 4 of Act 1 of 2023]

(3)If a candidate has been nominated by more than one party for an election—

(a)the chief electoral officer must, where possible, in writing, notify the candidate and such parties who have nominated such a candidate about such state of affairs by no later than the relevant date and time stated in the election timetable; and

(b)each of the parties to whom notice has been given in terms of paragraph (a) may, by not later than the relevant date and time stated in the election timetable, substitute such a candidate.

[section 28 substituted by section 11 of Act 1 of 2019]

29. Inspection of copies of lists of candidates and accompanying documents

(1)By not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable, the chief electoral officer must give notice that copies of the lists of candidates and accompanying documents submitted by registered parties in terms of section 27, as amended and supplemented in terms of section 28, will be available for inspection.

(2)The notice must be—

(a)published in the Government Gazette; and

(b)publicised in the media considered appropriate by the chief electoral officer so as to ensure wide publicity of the lists.

(3)The notice must state, and the chief electoral officer must ensure, that for the relevant period stated in the election timetable—

(a)copies of the lists for—

(i)an election of the National Assembly, will be available for inspection at the Commission’s head office, a place in each province designated in the notice and the office of each municipality in the country; and

(ii)an election of a provincial legislature, will be available for inspection at the Commission's head office, a place in the province designated in the notice and the office of each municipality in that province; and

(b)copies of the documents accompanying the lists are available for inspection at the Commission's head office.

(4)Any person may inspect a copy of a list of candidates and accompanying documents referred to in subsection (1).

(5)The chief electoral officer must provide a certified copy of, or extract from, a list of candidates or document referred to in subsection (1), to any person who has paid the prescribed fee.

30. Objections to lists of candidates

(1)Any person, including the chief electoral officer, may object to the nomination of a candidate on the following grounds:

(a)The candidate is not qualified to stand in the election;

(b)a party has failed to submit the prescribed acceptance of nomination signed by the candidate as contemplated in section 27(4);[paragraph (b) substituted by section 12 of Act 4 of 2021]

(c)there is no prescribed undertaking, signed by the candidate, that the candidate is bound by the Code.

(2)The objection must be made to the Commission in the prescribed manner by not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable, and must be served on the registered party that nominated the candidate.

(3)The Commission must decide the objection, and must notify the objector and the registered party that nominated the candidate of the decision in the prescribed manner by not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable.

(4)The objector, or the registered party who nominated the candidate, may appeal against the decision of the Commission to the Electoral Court in the prescribed manner and by not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable.

(5)The Electoral Court must consider and decide the appeal and notify the parties to the appeal and the chief electoral officer of the decision in the prescribed manner, and by not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable.

(6)[subsection (6) deleted by section 5 of Act 1 of 2023]

31. List of parties entitled to contest election and final lists of candidates

(1)By not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable, the chief electoral officer must—

(a)give effect to a decision of the Commission in terms of section 30(3) and to a decision of the Electoral Court terms of section 30(5); and

(b)compile a list of the registered parties entitled to contest the election concerned and have the final list of candidates for each of those parties available.

(2)The chief electoral officer must provide a certified copy of, or extract from, a list mentioned in subsection (1)(b) to any person who has paid die prescribed fee.

(3)By not later than the relevant date stated in the ejection timetable, the chief electoral officer must issue to each candidate on a final list of candidates for an election, a certificate stating that the person is a candidate in that election.

Part 3A. Independent candidates

[part 3A inserted by section 6 of Act 1 of 2023]

31A. Nomination of independent candidate

(1)A person may be nominated to contest an election as an independent candidate—

(a)in one or more regions for the National Assembly but may be elected to only one seat in the National Assembly; and

(b)for a provincial legislature in a province in which that person is registered as a voter,

provided that the independent candidate may only be eligible to be a member of either the National Assembly or a provincial legislature.

(2)Provided the other provisions of this Act are complied with, a person nominated in terms of subsection (1) stands as an independent candidate in that election.

[section 31A inserted by section 6 of Act 1 of 2023]

31B. Requirements for independent candidates to contest elections

(1)A person may contest an election as an independent candidate only if that person is nominated on a prescribed form and that form is submitted to the Commission by not later than a date stated in the timetable for the election and complies with the requirements of subsection (3).

(2)The prescribed nomination form must be submitted in the prescribed manner by not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable.

(3)The following must be attached to a nomination when it is submitted:

(a)A completed prescribed form confirming that the independent candidate has submitted, in the prescribed manner, the names, identity numbers and signatures of voters whose names appear—

(i)in the case of an election of the National Assembly in respect of regional seats, on the national segment of the voters’ roll and who support his or her candidature—

(aa)totalling 15 percent of the quota for that region in the preceding election, if intending to contest only one region; or

(bb)totalling 15 percent of the highest of the regional quotas in the preceding election, if intending to contest more than one region, provided that where 15 percent of the highest of the quotas is not achieved, that the independent candidate may only contest the region or regions as determined by the next highest quota; or

(ii)in the case of an election of a provincial legislature, on the segment of the voters’ roll for the province and who support his or her candidature, totalling at least 15 percent of the quota of that province in the preceding election, which the independent candidate intends to contest,

provided that an independent candidate who was elected to either the National Assembly or a provincial legislature as an independent candidate in the preceding election shall be exempt from this requirement;

(b)a deposit equal to a prescribed amount, payable in the prescribed form and manner;

(c)a prescribed undertaking, signed by the candidate, to be bound by the Code;

(d)a prescribed declaration, signed by the candidate, that he or she is not disqualified from standing for election in terms of the Constitution or any applicable legislation;

(e)if contesting an election of a provincial legislature, a prescribed declaration, signed by the candidate confirming that he or she is registered to vote within a province in which he or she intends contesting; and

(f)a recent photograph of the candidate in such form as may be prescribed.

(4)The Commission may in the form and manner as may be prescribed request—

(a)an acceptance of nomination signed by the candidate; and

(b)a copy of the identity card or that page of the candidate’s identity document on which the candidate’s photo, name and identity number appear

(5)The Commission must accept a nomination submitted to it and allow the nominated person to stand as a candidate in the election if the provisions of section 31A and this section have been complied with.

(6)The amount to be deposited by an independent candidate contesting an election of a provincial legislature, must be less than the amount for contesting an election of the National Assembly, and such deposits may also be different to the deposits paid by registered parties.

[section 31B inserted by section 6 of Act 1 of 2023]

31C. Non-compliance

(1)If the nomination of an independent candidate does not fully comply with section 31B(3)(c), (d), (e), (f) or section 31B(4), the chief electoral officer must notify the nominated person of the non-compliance.

(2)The notification must be given in the prescribed manner by not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable, and must indicate that the nominated person has an opportunity to comply with section 31B(3)(c), (d), (e), (f) or section 31B(4), by not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable.

(3)If a person has been nominated both as an independent candidate and by one or more parties for an election—

(a)the chief electoral officer must, where possible, in writing, notify the person and such party or parties who have nominated such person about such state of affairs by no later than the relevant date and time stated in the election timetable; and

(b)the party or parties to whom notice has been given in terms of paragraph (a) may, by not later than the relevant date and time stated in the election timetable, substitute such a candidate.

[section 31C inserted by section 6 of Act 1 of 2023]

31D. Inspection of copies of lists of independent candidates and accompanying documents

(1)By not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable, the chief electoral officer must—

(a)compile a draft list of independent candidates; and

(b)give notice that copies of the draft list of independent candidates and accompanying documents submitted in terms of section 31B, as amended and supplemented in terms of section 31C, will be available for inspection.

(2)The notice referred to in subsection (1)(b) must be —

(a)published in the Government Gazette; and

(b)publicised in the media considered appropriate by the chief electoral officer so as to ensure wide publicity of the lists.

(3)The notice referred to in subsection (1)(b) must state, and the chief electoral officer must ensure, that for the relevant period stated in the election timetable—

(a)copies of the lists for—

(ii)an election of a provincial legislature, will be available for inspection at the Commission’s head office, a place in the province designated in the notice and the office of each municipality in that province; and

(b)copies of the documents accompanying the lists are available for inspection at the Commission’s head office.

(4)Any person may inspect a copy of the draft list of independent candidates and accompanying documents referred to in subsection (1).

(5)The chief electoral officer must provide a certified copy of, or extract from, the draft list of independent candidates or documents referred to in subsection (1), to any person who has paid the prescribed fee.

[section 31D inserted by section 6 of Act 1 of 2023]

31E. Objections to independent candidates

(1)Any person, including the chief electoral officer, may object to the nomination of an independent candidate on the following grounds:

(a)The nominated candidate is not qualified to stand in the election;

(b)the nominated candidate has failed to submit the prescribed acceptance of nomination signed by the candidate as contemplated in section 31B(4); or

(c)there is no prescribed undertaking, signed by the nominated candidate, that the candidate is bound by the Code.

(2)The objection must be made to the Commission in the prescribed manner by not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable, and must be served on the nominated candidate.

(3)The Commission must decide the objection, and must notify the objector and the nominated candidate of the decision in the prescribed manner by not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable.

(4)The objector, or the nominated candidate, may appeal against the decision of the Commission to the Electoral Court in the prescribed manner and by not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable.

(5)The Electoral Court must consider and decide the appeal and notify the parties to the appeal and the chief electoral officer of the decision in the prescribed manner and by not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable.

[section 31E inserted by section 6 of Act 1 of 2023]

31F. List of independent candidates entitled to contest election

(1)By not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable, the chief electoral officer must—

(a)give effect to a decision of the Commission in terms of section 31E(3) and to a decision of the Electoral Court in terms of section 31E(5); and

(b)compile a final list of independent candidates entitled to contest the election concerned.

(2)The chief electoral officer must provide a certified copy of, or extract from, a list mentioned in subsection (1)(b) to any person who has paid the prescribed fee.

(3)By not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable, the chief electoral officer must issue to each independent candidate on the list of independent candidates for an election, a certificate stating that the person is an independent candidate in that election.

[section 31F added by section 6 of Act 1 of 2023]

Part 4 – Municipal councils

32. ***

[section 32 repealed by section 8 of Act 34 of 2003]

Part 5 – Special votes and declaration votes

33. Special votes in eletion for National Assembly

(1)In an election for the National Assembly, the Commission must allow a person to apply for and cast a special vote, prior to election day, if, on election day, that person cannot vote at a voting station in a voting district in which he or she is registered as a voter, due to his or her—

(a)physical infirmity or disability, or pregnancy;

(b)absence from that voting district while serving as an officer in the election; or

(c)being on duty as a member of the security services in connection with the election.

(2)In an election for the National Assembly, the Commission must allow a person to apply for and cast a special vote, prior to election day, in the voting district in which that person is registered if he or she cannot vote in that voting district on election day, due to his or her intended absence from that voting district.

(3)In an election for the National Assembly, the Commission must allow a person, who will be outside the Republic on voting day, to cast a special vote if that person’s name appears on the segment of the voters’ roll for persons who are in the Republic, and if that person notifies the chief electoral officer, in the prescribed manner, by no later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable of his or her intention to vote outside the Republic and the location of the South African embassy, high commission or consulate where he or she will cast his or her vote: Provided that the Commission may make special arrangements for security services personnel serving in that capacity outside the Republic.[subsection (3) substituted by section 13(a) of Act 4 of 2021]

(4)In an election for the National Assembly, the Commission must allow a person to cast a special vote if that person’s name appears on the segment of the voters’ roll for persons ordinarily resident at a place outside the Republic, if that person presents himself or herself to vote at the South African embassy, high commission or consulate on whose segment of the voters’ roll his or her name appears.[subsection (4) substituted by section 13(b) of Act 4 of 2021]

(4A)In an election for the National Assembly, the Commission must allow a person to cast a special vote if—

(a)that person’s name appears on the segment of the voters’ roll for persons ordinarily resident at a place outside the Republic;

(b)that person intends to vote at a specified voting station within the Republic or at a South African embassy, high commission or consulate other than one on whose segment of the voters’ roll his or her name appears; and

(c)he or she notifies the chief electoral officer in the prescribed manner by no later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable of his or her intention to vote at a specified voting station within the Republic or at a specified South African embassy, high commission or consulate.

[subsection (4A) added by section 13(c) of Act 4 of 2021]

(5)Persons contemplated in subsections (3), (4) or (4A) may only cast a vote for the election of the compensatory seats for the National Assembly in terms of Schedule 1A.[subsection (5) substituted by section 32 of Act 14 of 2024]

(6)The Commission must prescribe—

(a)the procedures for applying for special votes in an election for the National Assembly; and

(b)the procedure, consistent in principle with Chapter 4, for the casting and counting of special votes.

[section 33 amended by section 2 of Act 40 of 2003, by section 9 of Act 34 of 2003 and substituted by section 6 of Act 18 of 2013]

33A. Special votes in election for provincial legislatures

(1)In an election for a provincial legislature, the Commission must allow a person to apply for and cast a special vote, prior to election day, if that person cannot vote at a voting station in the voting district in which he or she is registered, due to his or her—

(a)physical infirmity or disability, or pregnancy;

(b)absence from that voting district while serving as an officer in the election; or

(c)being on duty as a member of the security services in connection with the election.

(2)In an election for a provincial legislature, the Commission must allow a person to apply for and cast a special vote, prior to election day, in the voting district in which that person is registered, if that person cannot vote in that voting district on election day, due to his or her intended absence from that voting district on election day.

(3)The Commission must prescribe—

(a)the procedure for applying for special votes in an election for a provincial legislature; and

(b)the procedure, consistent in principle with Chapter 4, for the casting and counting of special votes.

[section 33A inserted by section 7 of Act 18 of 2013]

34. ***

[section 34 repealed by section 8 of Act 18 of 2013]

Chapter 4
Elections

Part 1 – Voting

35. Officers at voting stations

On voting day each voting station must be staffed by—

(a)the presiding officer appointed for that voting station, who may exercise the powers and must perform the duties assigned to a presiding officer by or under this Act; and

(b)the voting officers appointed for that voting station, who may exercise the powers and must perform the duties assigned to a voting officer by or under this Act.

36. Hours of voting

(1)Unless the Commission determines other voting hours for an election in general or for a particular voting station, a voting station must—

(a)open for voting at 07:00; and

(b)remain open for voting until 21:00, at which time it must close for voting.

(2)If the Commission determines other voting hours for an election in general or for a particular voting station, the chief electoral officer must widely publicise the determined voting hours.

(3)No person may be admitted to a voting station for the purpose of voting, before the voting station has opened for voting or after the voting station has closed for voting.

(4)[subsection (4) deleted by section 10 of Act 34 of 2003]

(5)[subsection (5) deleted by section 10 of Act 34 of 2003]

(6)Voting at a voting station must continue until every voter has voted who—

(a)is entitled to vote at that voting station; and

(b)has reported for voting at that voting station before the closing time.

(7)To ensure free and fair elections, the Commission may, on the voting day—

(a)extend voting hours at a voting station until as late as midnight on that voting day; or

(b)temporarily close a voting station for part of a voting day if it is temporarily impossible to conduct a free and fair election at that voting station.

[section 36 substituted by section 10 of Act 34 of 2003]

37. Initial procedures

Immediately before opening a voting station for voting, the presiding officer must—

(a)show all agents present that each ballot box to be used at that voting station is empty; and

(b)in the presence of those agents close and secure the ballot boxes in the prescribed manner.

38. Voting procedure

(1)A voter may only vote once in an election, and may vote only at the voting station in the voting district for which that voter is registered.

(2)A voter is entitled to vote at a voting station—

(a)on production of that voter’s identity document to the presiding officer or a voting officer at the voting station; and

(b)if that voter’s name is in the certified segment of the voters’ roll for the voting district concerned.

(3)When a voter produces an identity document to a presiding officer or voting officer as required by subsection (2)(a), the presiding officer or voting officer must examine the identity document and determine whether—

(a)the voter is the person described in that identity document;

(b)the voter’s name is in the certified segment of the voters’ roll for the voting district concerned; and

(c)that voter has not already voted in the election.

(4)For the purposes of subsection (3)(a), the presiding officer or voting officer may require that the voter’s fingerprints be taken.

(5)If the presiding officer or voting officer is satisfied in respect of all the matters mentioned in subsection (3), that officer must—

(a)record that the voter is regarded to have voted in the election;

(aA)[paragraph (aA) inserted by section 11 of Act 34 of 2003 and deleted by section 12(a) of Act 1 of 2019]

(b)mark the hand of the voter in the prescribed manner;

(c)mark the back of a ballot paper for that election; and

(d)hand the ballot paper to the voter.

(6)Once the voter has received a ballot paper marked in terms of subsection (5)(a), the voter must—

(a)enter an empty voting compartment;

(b)mark the ballot paper in a way that indicates the registered party or candidate the voter wishes to vote for;

(c)fold the ballot paper to conceal the voter’s vote;

(d)take the ballot paper to a ballot box for the election and show it to the presiding officer or a voting officer in a way that that officer can see the mark made in terms of subsection (5)(a);

(e)place the ballot paper in the ballot box; and

(f)without delay leave the voting station.

(7)The voting compartment must comply with the provisions of section 70.

(8)The Commission may prescribe a different voting procedure for those voters whose names appear on the voters’ roll, without addresses: Provided that if such voter does not comply with the prescribed procedure he or she may not vote in the provincial elections, but only in the national elections.[subsection (8) added by section 12(b) of Act 1 of 2019]

39. Assistance to certain voters

(1)The presiding officer or a voting officer, at the request of a voter who is unable to read, must assist that voter in voting in the presence of—

(a)aperson appointed in terms of section 85 by an accredited observer, if available; and

(b)two agents, either from different parties or representing different independent candidates, if available.[paragraph (b) substituted by section 7 of Act 1 of 2023]

(2)A person may assist a voter in voting if—

(a)the voter requires assistance due to a physical disability, including blindness or other visual impairment;

(b)the voter has requested to be assisted by that person; and

(c)the presiding officer is satisfied that the person rendering assistance has attained the age of 18 years and is not an agent or a candidate.

(3)The secrecy of voting contemplated in section 38 must be preserved as far as possible in the application of this section.

[section 39 substituted by section 12 of Act 34 of 2003]

40. Issue of new ballot papers

(1)If a voter—

(a)marks a ballot paper in a way that does not indicate for whom the voter wishes to vote; or

(b)after having marked the ballot paper, changes his or her mind as to how he or she wishes to vote, and the ballot paper has not yet been placed in the ballot box, the voter may return that ballot paper to the presiding officer or a voting officer.

[subsection (1) substituted by section 13(a) of Act 1 of 2019]

(2)Upon receiving a ballot paper from a voter in terms of subsection (1), the presiding officer or a voting officer must mark "cancelled" on the back of the ballot paper and file it separately to be dealt with in accordance with section 43.

(3)The presiding officer or voting officer must then hand a new ballot paper to the voter.[subsection (3) added by section 13(b) of Act 1 of 2019]

(4)The Commission must prescribe the number of times a new ballot paper may be issued in terms of subsection (3), with due regard to section 19 of the Constitution.[subsection (4) added by section 13(b) of Act 1 of 2019]

41. Objections concerning voting

(1)Subject to subsection (1A), at any time before a voter has been handed a ballot paper, an agent may object to that voter being entitled to vote or to vote at the voting station concerned.[subsection (1) substituted by section 14(a) of Act 1 of 2019]

(1A)Where a voter’s name appears on the relevant segment of the voters’ roll concerned, an objection to that voter in terms of subsection (1) may only be made where—

(a)it is based on the contention that the voter was included on the relevant segment of the voters’ roll due to fraud; or

(b)exceptional circumstances exist which justify the objection being made outside the objection period prescribed in terms of section 14(2)(f).

[subsection 1(A) inserted by section 14(b) of Act 1 of 2019]

(2)An agent, or the voter concerned, may object if the voter is refused a ballot paper.

(3)An agent, or a voter, may object to any conduct, other than that mentioned in subsection (1), (1A) or (2), of an officer, an agent, or any other person present at a voting station.[subsection (3) substituted by section 14(c) of Act 1 of 2019]

(4)An objection in terms of subsection (1), (1A), (2) or (3) must be made to the presiding officer in the prescribed manner.[subsection (4) substituted by section 14(c) of Act 1 of 2019]

(5)The presiding officer, in the prescribed manner, must, except for an objection in terms of subsection (1A), decide the objection and notify the objector and any other parties involved in the objection, of the decision.[subsection (5) substituted by section 14(c) of Act 1 of 2019]

(5A)Where an objection is made in terms of subsection (1A)—

(a)the presiding officer must, in the prescribed manner, allow the voter concerned to vote but deal with the vote as if it were a special vote in terms of section 33 or 33A; and

(b)the matter must be decided by the Commission as if it were an appeal in terms of subsection (6).

[subsection (5A) inserted by section 14(d) of Act 1 of 2019]

(6)An appeal against the decision of the presiding officer may be noted with the Commission in the prescribed manner and time.

(7)The presiding officer must keep a written record in the prescribed manner of each objection and decision made in terms of this section.

42. Sealing of full ballot boxes

(1)As soon as a ballot box is full, the presiding officer, in the presence of any agents present, must seal the ballot box in the prescribed manner and allow those agents to affix their seals thereto.

(2)Immediately after the last vote has been cast, every remaining used ballot box must be similarly dealt with.

(3)A sealed ballot box must remain—

(a)sealed until opened for the counting of votes in terms of section 46(1); and

(b)in the voting station until the commencement of the counting of the votes there or, if the votes are not to be counted at that voting station, until removed for delivery in terms of section 43(3).

43. Completion of form and sealing of voting materials

(1)As soon as practicable after the close of a voting station for voting, the presiding officer, in the presence of any agents present, must—

(a)complete a form reflecting the number of—

(i)ballot boxes entrusted to that presiding officer;

(ii)used ballot boxes;

(iii)unused ballot boxes;

(iv)ballot papers entrusted to that presiding officer;

(v)issued ballot papers;

(vi)unissued ballot papers; and

(vii)cancelled ballot papers;

(b)seal each unused ballot box entrusted to that presiding officer;

(c)seal in separate containers—

(i)the certified segment of the voters’ roll for that voting district;

(ii)the unused ballot papers entrusted to that presiding officer;

(iii)the cancelled ballot papers; and

(iv)the written record, as required by section 41(7), of any objections concerning voting; and

(d)allow these agents to affix their seals to the items mentioned in paragraphs (b) and (c).

(2)If the votes in an election are to be counted at the voting station at which those votes were cast and if the counting officer for that voting station is a person other than the presiding officer for that voting station, the presiding officer must deliver to the counting officer for that voting station the items mentioned in subsection (1).

(3)If the votes in an election are not to be counted at the voting station at which those votes were cast, the presiding officer must deliver the following to the counting officer of a counting venue determined by the Commission in terms of section 46(1)(b);

(a)The form mentioned in subsection (1)(a);

(b)the sealed, used ballot boxes;

(c)the sealed, unused ballot boxes; and

(d)the sealed containers mentioned in subsection (1)(c).

44. Mobile voting stations

(1)If the Commission decides to use mobile voting stations in an election, the Commission must prescribe voting procedures, substantially in accordance with sections 35 to 43, for those voting stations.

(2)Immediately after a mobile voting station is closed for voting, the presiding officer responsible for that voting station must act in accordance with Section 43(3).

45. More than one election on same day

If more than one election is held at a voting station on the same day, the Commission must prescribe voting procedures, substantially in accordance with sections 35 to 43, for each of those elections.

Part 2 – Counting of votes at voting station

46. Place and time of counting of votes

(1)Votes must be counted at the voting station at which those votes were cast, except when—

(a)the voting station is a mobile voting station; or

(b)in the interest of ensuring a free and fair election, the Commission determines that those votes be counted at another counting venue.

(2)The counting officer must ensure that the procedures set out in this Part commence as soon as practicable after the voting station is closed for voting, and continue uninterrupted until they are completed.

(3)The procedures provided for in this Part may be suspended only with the consent of the Commission and, if they are suspended, the counting officer must ensure the safe-keeping of all the voting materials entrusted to the counting officer until the counting of votes has been completed.

47. Counting of votes and determination of provisional results

(1)The counting officer must open all the used ballot boxes that were sealed in terms of section 42(1) or (2).

(2)The counting officer must—

(a)cause the ballot papers to be sorted on the basis of the ballot papers for each election if more than one election was held at a voting, station on the same day;

(b)cause the ballot papers for each election to be sorted and compare it with the number of ballot papers issued in the prescribed manner;

(c)cause the votes cast in each election to be counted in the prescribed manner; and

(d)determine the result of each Count at that voting station.

(3)The counting officer must reject a ballot paper—

(a)that indicates the identity of the voter;

(b)on which a vote is cast for more than one registered party or for more than one candidate;

(c)that is unmarked;

(d)that is marked in such a way that it is not reasonably possible to determine the voter’s choice;

(e)that does not bear the mark required in terms of section 38(5)(c); or

(f)that is not an official ballot paper.

(4)The counting officer must mark "rejected" on the back of each rejected ballot paper and file the rejected ballot papers separately.

(5)If a counting officer’s acceptance or rejection of a ballot paper is disputed by an agent, the counting officer must—

(a)mark "disputed" on the back of that ballot paper;

(b)file separately, but cause to be counted, the accepted ballot papers that are disputed; and

(c)file separately the rejected ballot papers that are disputed.

48. Objections concerning sorting of ballot papers

(1)An agent may object to any alleged irregularity in the sorting of the ballot papers in terms of section 47(2)(a) or (b).

(2)The objection must be made to the counting officer in the prescribed manner at any stage before the counting officer has completed the form mentioned in section 48.

(3)Section 41(5) to (7), adjusted as may contextually be necessary, applies to the objection.

49. Objections concerning counting of votes and determination of provisional results

(1)An agent may object to an alleged inaccuracy in the counting of the votes or the determination of a result in terms of section 47(2)(c) or (d).

(2)The objection must be made to the counting officer in the prescribed manner at any stage before the counting officer has completed the form mentioned in section 50.

(3)The counting officer must decide the objection in the prescribed manner and whether to order a recount.

(4)The counting officer must notify the objector and any other parties involved in the objection, of the decision made in terms of subsection (3).

(5)If the counting officer orders a recount, the counting officer must determine afresh the result.

(6)An appeal against the decision of the counting officer may, be noted with the Commission in the prescribed manner and time.

(7)The counting officer must keep a written record in the prescribed manner of each objection in terms of subsection (1) and each decision in terms of subsection (3).

50. Procedure concerning provisional results and voting materials

(1)After determining the result at a voting station, the counting officer must complete a prescribed form reflecting the result of the count in respect of each ballot conducted at the voting station.[subsection (1) substituted by section 14(a) of Act 4 of 2021]

(2)Once the counting officer has complied with subsection (1), the counting officer must announce the result of the count at the voting station to members of the public and agents present at the voting station.

(3)Once the counting officer has complied with subsection (2), the counting officer must inform the Commission of the result of the count at the voting station.

(4)Once the counting officer has complied with subsection (3), the counting officer must—

(a)seal in separate containers each of the items listed in the prescribed form mentioned in subsection (1) and the written record of any objections in terms of section 48 or 49; and[paragraph (a) substituted by section 14(b) of Act 4 of 2021]

(b)deliver the form completed in terms of subsection (1) and the sealed containers to an officer designated by the chief electoral officer.

Part 3 – Counting of votes at place other than voting station

51. Application of Part and procedures

(1)This Part applies to the counting of votes mentioned in section 46(1)(a) or (b).

(2)The counting officer must ensure that the procedures provided for in this Part commence as soon as practicable after receipt of the items mentioned in section 43(3), and continue uninterrupted until they are completed.

52. Verification procedure

(1)After receipt of the items mentioned in section 43(3), the counting officer must examine whether the seals are intact on those items.

(2)The counting officer must allow any agents present to examine whether the seals are intact.

(3)After examining the seals, the counting officer must open all the sealed ballot boxes and containers and must verify the form completed by the presiding officer in terms of section 43(1)(a) by comparing it with—

(a)the number of used ballot boxes received;

(b)the number of unused ballot boxes received;

(c)the number of containers received; and

(d)the contents of those boxes and containers.

(4)The counting officer must deal with any irregularities and discrepancies in the prescribed manner.

(5)The counting officer must keep a written record in the prescribed manner of any irregularities and discrepancies and the manner in which those irregularities and discrepancies were dealt with.

53. Objections concerning verification procedure

(1)At any time before the counting of votes commences, an agent may object to any alleged irregularity or inaccuracy in the verification procedure performed by the counting officer.

(2)The objection must be made to the counting officer in the prescribed manner.

(3)Section 41(5) to (7), adjusted as may contextually be necessary, applies to the objection.

54. Application of certain sections in Part 2

Sections 47 to 50, adjusted as may contextually be necessary, apply to the counting of votes and the determination of the result at a venue other than a voting station, objections and procedures concerning results and voting materials.

Part 4 – Objections material to final results of election

55. Objections material to final results of election

(1)Any interested party may lodge with the Commission an objection that is material to the determination of the final result of the election, in respect of proceedings provided for in—

(a)Part 1 of Chapter 4 concerning voting; and

(b)Parts 2 and 3 of Chapter 4 concerning the counting of votes.

[subsection (1) substituted by section 13 of Act 34 of 2003]

(2)The objection must be made to the Commission in the prescribed manner not later than 21:00 on the second day after the voting day.

(3)The Commission, on good cause shown, may condone a late objection.

(4)The Commission, in the prescribed manner, must decide the objection, and must notify the objector and any other parties involved in the objection, of the decision.

(5)An objector or other party involved in the objection and who feels aggrieved by the decision of the Commission, may appeal to the Electoral Court in the prescribed manner.

(6)The Electoral Court, in the prescribed manner, must consider and decide the appeal and notify the parties to the appeal of its decision.

(7)The result of an election is not suspended pending the decision of the Electoral Court.

56. Powers of Commission and Electoral Court

If the Commission or the Electoral Court decides, whether as a result of an objection or appeal brought under section 55 or otherwise, that a serious irregularity has occurred concerning any aspect of an election, the Commission or the Electoral Court may order—

(a)that the votes cast at a particular voting station do not count in whole or in part; or

(b)that the votes cast in favour of a registered party at a particular voting station must be deducted in whole or in part from the votes cast in favour of that registered party in that election.[paragraph (b) substituted by section 14 of Act 34 of 2003]

Part 5 – Determination and declaration of final result of election

57. Determination and declaration of final result of election

(1)The Commission must determine and declare the result of an election by adding together the results received from all voting stations.

(2)The determination and declaration of the result of an election must occur within seven days after the voting day, but not—

(a)sooner than 21:00 of the second day after the voting day; or

(b)before all objections made under section 55 have been dealt with in terms of that section, other than an appeal to the Electoral Court in terms of subsection (5) of that section.

(3)The Commission may determine and declare the result of an election without having received the results of all voting stations, if—

(a)to wait for the receipt of the result from every voting station would unduly and unreasonably delay the determination and declaration of the result of that election; and

(b)the outstanding results are not likely to materially influence the overall result of that election.

(4)If the Commission is unable to determine and declare the result of an election within the seven-day period required by subsection (2), the Commission must apply to the Electoral Court for an extension of that period.[subsection (4) substituted by section 9 of Act 18 of 2013]

(5)The Electoral Court, on good cause shown, may extend the period within which the Commission must determine and declare the result of an election.

Part 6 – Electoral system

[Part 6 inserted by section 15 of Act 34 of 2003]

57A. System of representation in National Assembly and provincial legislatures

Schedule 1A applies in general to elections for the National Assembly and provincial legislatures held under this Act, but without detracting from the generality of its application, in particular to—

(a)lists of candidates and lists of independent candidates;[paragraph (a) substituted by section 8(a) of Act 1 of 2023]

(b)the allocation of seats;

(c)the designation of candidates from candidate lists and lists of independent candidates as representatives for those seats; and[paragraph (c) substituted by section 8(b) of Act 1 of 2023]

(d)the filling of vacancies.

[section 57A inserted by section 15 of Act 34 of 2003]

Chapter 5
Agents

58. Appointment of agents

(1)Every registered party or independent candidate contesting an election may appoint such number as may be presribed—

(a)for each voting station; and[paragraph (a) substituted by section 10 of Act 18 of 2013]

(b)for each venue where the proceedings provided for in Part 3 or 5 of Chapter 4 take place.

(2)An agent—

(a)must be a South African citizen; and

(b)may not be a candidate in an election.

(3)The appointment and revocation of appointment of a person as an agent must be effected in the prescribed manner.

[section 58 substituted by section 9 of Act 1 of 2023]

59. Powers and duties of agents

(1)An agent may observe the proceedings provided for in—

(a)Part 1 of Chapter 4 concerning voting;

(b)Parts 2 and 3 of Chapter 4 concerning the counting of votes; and

(c)Part 5 of Chapter 4 concerning the determination and declaration of the result of an election.

(2)The absence of an agent from a place where any electoral proceedings are being conducted does not invalidate those proceedings.

(3)Whilst present at any voting station, or venue where the proceedings provided for in Part 3 or 5 of Chapter 4 take place, an agent must—

(a)wear the prescribed identification indicating—

(i)that the person is an agent; and

(ii)the registered party or independent candidate represented by that agent; and[subparagraph (ii) substituted by section 16 of Act 34 of 2003 and by section 10 of Act 1 of 2023]

(b)comply with any order issued by—

(i)an officer; or

(ii)a member of the security services acting on the instructions of an officer.

Chapter 6
Administration

Part 1 – Voting districts

60. Establishment of voting districts

(1)The Commission must—

(a)establish voting districts for the whole of the territory of the Republic;

(b)determine the boundaries of each voting district in accordance with the factors mentioned in section 61; and

(c)keep a map of each voting district.

(2)The voting districts for an election are those voting districts which on the date on which the election is called are within the area in which the election is called.

61. Factors for determining voting district boundaries

The Commission must determine the boundaries of a voting district by taking into account any factor within the proposed voting district that could affect the free, fair and orderly conduct of elections, including—

(a)the availability of a suitable venue for a voting station;

(b)the number and distribution of eligible voters;

(c)the accessibility of a voting station to voters given—

(i)the radius of the proposed voting district;

(ii)the availability of transport;

(iii)telecommunications facilities; and

(iv)any geographical or physical feature that may impede access to the voting station;

(d)municipal and provincial boundaries; and

(e)tribal, traditional, historical and customary boundaries.

62. Consultation with political liaison committee

[heading of section 62 substituted by section 11(a) of Act 1 of 2023]Before determining the boundaries of a voting district, the Commission may consult on the proposed boundaries of that voting district with—

(a)the municipal political liaison committee for the municipality within which that voting district will fall; or[paragraph (a) substituted by section 11(b) of Act 1 of 2023]

(b)if no municipal political liaison committee has been established in a municipality, the provincial political liaison committee for the province within which that voting district will fall.[paragraph (b) substituted by section 11(b) of Act 1 of 2023]

63. Inspection and copies of maps of voting districts

(1)As soon as practicable after section 60(1) has been complied with the chief electoral officer must give notice that copies of the map of each voting district will be available for inspection.

(2)The notice must be—

(a)published in the Government Gazette; and

(b)publicised in the media considered appropriate by the chief electoral officer so as to ensure wide publicity of those maps.

(3)The notice must state, and the chief electoral officer must ensure, that copies of—

(a)those maps are available for inspection at the Commission’s head office; and

(b)the maps of the voting districts within a municipality are available for inspection at the office of the municipality.

(4)Any person may inspect a copy of a map mentioned in subsection (1).

(5)The chief electoral officer must provide a certified copy of a map of a voting district to any person who has paid the prescribed fee.

63A. Review of voting districts

(1)The Commission must regularly review the established voting districts and their boundaries, taking into account the factors mentioned in section 61, and whenever necessary—

(a)disestablish an existing voting district;

(b)establish a new voting district and determine the boundaries for that voting district; or

(c)redetermine the boundaries of an existing voting district.

(2)The chief electoral officer must ensure that, as soon as possible after the Commission has acted in terms of subsection (1), affected copies of maps available for inspection in terms of section 63(3) are replaced by amended ones.

[section 63A inserted by section 17 of Act 34 of 2003]

Part 2 – Voting stations

64. Establishment of voting stations

(1)The Commission must establish for an election one voting Station, or one voting station and a mobile voting station, or only a mobile voting station, in each voting district in which the election will be held.[subsection (1) substituted by section 18(a) of Act 34 of 2003]

(1A)The Commission may establish a mobile voting station only if—

(a)the voting district is a large and sparsely populated area and it is necessary to assist voters who would otherwise have to travel long distances to reach the voting station; or

(b)the mobile voting station is necessary for use at a prison.

[subsection (1A) inserted by section 18(b) of Act 34 of 2003]

(2)When determining the location of a voting station, the Commission may take into account any factor that could affect the free, fair and orderly conduct of elections, including—

(a)the number and distribution of eligible voters in that voting district;

(b)the availability of suitable venues for a voting station;

(c)the distance to be travelled to reach those venues;

(d)access routes to those venues;

(e)the availability of transport to those venues;

(f)traffic density at or near those venues;

(g)parking facilities at or near those venues;

(h)telecommunications facilities at those venues;

(i)general facilities at those venues;

(j)the safety and convenience of voters;

(k)any geographical or physical feature that may impede access to or at those venues; and

(l)the ease with which those venues could be secured.

(3)Before determining the location of a voting station, the Commission may consult on the proposed location of that voting station with—

(a)the municipal political liaison committee for the municipality within which that voting station will fall; or[paragraph (a) substituted by section 12 of Act 1 of 2023]

(b)if no municipal political party liaison committee has been established in the municipality, the provincial political liaison committee for the province within which the voting station will fall.[paragraph (b) substituted by section 12 of Act 1 of 2023]

(4)By not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable, the chief electoral officer must give notice that copies of a list containing the address of each voting station will be available for inspection.

(5)[subsection (5) deleted by section 18(c) of Act 34 of 2003]

(6)Upon application by a person to the office of the Commission’s local representative and upon payment of the prescribed amount, the Commission must furnish such a person with a certified copy of the list.[subsection (6) added by section 18(d) of Act 34 of 2003]

65. Relocation of voting stations in emergencies

(1)Despite section 64, the Commission may relocate a voting station if it is of the view that it is necessary to do so for the conduct of a free and fair election.

(2)The chief electoral officer must take all reasonable steps to publicise the relocation of a voting station among voters in the voting district concerned.

66. Boundaries of voting stations

(1)Before the voting station opens for voting on voting day the presiding officer of a voting station must determine the boundary of thevoting station after consultation with agents and members of the security services who are available at that voting station at that stage.[subsection (1) substituted by section 13(a) of Act 1 of 2023]

(2)The presiding officer must demarcate the boundary of the voting station by displaying visible signs, markers or tape along the whole line of the boundary, or at sufficient points along that line, to ensure that the boundary is clearly identifiable by any person present at that voting station.

(3)The presiding officer may alter the boundary at any time if it is necessary to do so to ensure proper control and security at the voting station and after consultation with agents and members of the security services who are available at that voting station at that stage.[subsection (3) substituted by section 13(b) of Act 1 of 2023]

[section 66 substituted by section 19 of Act 34 of 2003]

67. Mobile voting stations

(1)In order to ensure a free and fair election, the Commission may decide to use mobile voting stations.

(2)If the Commission decides to use mobile voting stations in an election, the chief electoral officer, by not later than the relevant date stated in the election timetable, must give notice of the route, including the locations and estimated times of stopping, of each mobile voting station.

(3)The notice must be publicised by the chief electoral officer in the media considered appropriate so as to ensure wide publicity of the information referred to in subsection (2).

(4)The Commission may change the route, including the location and estimated time of stopping, of a mobile voting station if it is necessary to do so for the conduct of a free and fair election.[subsection (4) added by section 20 of Act 34 of 2003]

(5)The chief electoral officer must take all reasonable steps to publicise the new route among voters in the voting district in question.[subsection (5) added by section 20 of Act 34 of 2003]

Part 3 – Voting materials

68. Ballot papers

The Commission must determine—

(a)the design of the ballot paper or ballot papers to be used in an election;

(b)the language to be used on a ballot paper, taking into account the election in which that ballot paper is to be used; and

(c)the manner in which ballot papers issued must be accounted for.

69. Ballot boxes

(1)The Commission must determine the design and material or ballot boxes to be used in an election.

(2)Each ballot box must be capable of being securely closed.

(3)The Commission must determine the manner in which ballot boxes are to be—

(a)numbered and labelled; and

(b)closed, secured, opened, sealed and unsealed.

70. Voting compartments

(1)The Commission must determine the design and material of voting compartments to be used in an election.

(2)A voting compartment must screen a voter from observation by other persons while marking a ballot paper.

71. Voting materials

(1)Before voting opens at a voting station, the chief electoral officer must supply the presiding officer responsible for that voting station with all the voting materials necessary for the election at that voting station, including—

(a)ballot papers;

(b)ballot boxes;

(c)voting compartments;

(d)a certified voters' roll for the voting district concerned; and

(e)a receipt to be signed by the presiding officer detailing the voting materials entrusted to that presiding officer.

(2)A presiding officer is responsible for the safe-keeping of all the voting material supplied to that officer.

Part 4 – Appointment of officers, additional persons and institutions, and their powers and duties

72. Appointment of presiding officers

As soon as practicable after the proclamation of an election, the chief electoral officer, in consultation with the Commission, must appoint a presiding officer and a deputy presiding officer for each voting station at which that election is to be conducted.

73. Powers and duties of presiding officers

(1)The presiding officer of a voting station must co-ordinate and supervise the voting at that voting station so as to ensure that the election at the voting station is free and fair.

(2)The presiding officer—

(a)may exercise the powers and must perform the duties assigned to a presiding officer by or under this Act;

(b)must take all reasonable steps to ensure orderly conduct at that voting station; and

(c)may order a member of the security services to assist in ensuring orderly conduct at that voting station, and that member must comply with that order.

(3)The presiding officer may exclude from the area within the boundary of a voting station any person other than—

(a)a member, employee or officer of the Commission, or the chief electoral officer;

(b)an agent who is entitled in terms of section 59 to be present at a voting station;

(c)the prescribed number of candidates as the presiding officer may allow;

(d)a person appointed by an accredited observer;

(e)a voter present for the purpose of casting a vote; and

(f)any other person or category of persons authorised by the chief electoral officer to be present at the voting station.

(4)

(a)Despite subsection (3), the presiding officer may order any person mentioned in Subsection (3)(b) to (f) to leave the area within the boundary of the voting station if that person’s conduct is not conducive to a free and fair election at that voting station.

(b)The presiding officer must give that person reasons for an order in terms of paragraph (a).

(5)If a person refuses to comply with an order in terms of subsection, (4) the presiding officer may order a member of the security services to forcibly remove that person, and that member must comply with that order.

(6)The deputy presiding officer of a voting station must act as presiding officer whenever—

(a)the presiding officer is absent from duty, or for any reason is temporarily unable to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the presiding officer;

(b)the office of presiding officer for that voting station is vacant.

74. Appointment of voting officers

As soon as practicable after the proclamation of an election, the chief electoral officer, in consultation with the Commission, must appoint for each voting station as many voting officers as may be necessary.

75. Powers and duties of voting officers

A voting officer—

(a)must assist the presiding officer in the exercise of the presiding officer’s powers and the performance of the presiding officer’s duties; and

(b)may exercise the powers and must perform the duties assigned to a voting officer by or under this Act.

76. Appointment of counting officers

(1)As soon as practicable after the proclamation of an election, the chief electoral officer, in consultation with the Commission, must appoint a counting officer and a deputy counting officer for each voting station or venue at which the counting of votes is to be conducted.

(2)The chief electoral officer may appoint the presiding officer, the deputy presiding officer or a voting officer for a voting station as the counting officer or deputy counting officer for that voting station or at a venue.

77. Powers and duties of counting officers

(1)The counting officer for a voting station or venue for the counting of votes must co-ordinate and supervise the counting of votes and the determination of the result of the election at the voting station or venue so as to ensure that the election at that voting station or venue is free and fair.

(2)Section 73(2) to (5), adjusted as may contextually be necessary, applies to the powers and duties of a counting officer.

(3)The deputy counting officer for a voting station or venue must act as the counting officer whenever—

(a)the counting officer is absent from duty, or for any reason is temporarily unable to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the counting officer; or

(b)the office of counting officer for that voting station or venue is vacant.

78. Appointment of counters

(1)As soon as practicable after the proclamation of an election, the chief electoral officer, in consultation with the Commission, must appoint as many counters as may be necessary for each voting station or venue at which the counting of votes is to be conducted.

(2)The chief electoral officer may appoint the presiding officer, deputy presiding officer or a voting officer for a voting station as a counter at that voting station or at a venue.

79. Powers and duties of counters

A counter—

(a)must assist a counting officer in the counting of votes; and

(b)may exercise the powers and must perform the duties assigned to a counter by or under this Act.

80. Appointment of additional persons

(1)The chief electoral officer, in consultation with the Commission, may appoint as many additional persons as may be necessary to enable the Commission to exercise its powers and perform its duties effectively.

(2)A person appointed by the chief electoral officer in terms of subsection (1) may be—

(a)a natural person; or

(b)an institution, including a juristic person or an organ of state.

81. Powers and duties of additional persons

A person appointed by the chief electoral officer in terms of section 80 may exercise any power and must perform any duty assigned to such a person by or under this Act.

82. General provisions concerning appointment of officers

(1)A person may not be appointed as an officer in an election, or remain in that office, if that person—

(a)is a candidate contesting that election;

(b)is an agent in that election; or

(c)holds political office in a registered party.

(2)

(a)An officer exercises the powers and performs the duties assigned to that officer subject to the directions, control and discipline of the chief electoral officer.

(b)The chief electoral officer must determine in writing the terms and conditions of appointment of an officer, including—

(i)the powers and duties assigned to that officer; and

(ii)any remuneration payable to that officer.

(3)The assignment of a power or duty to an officer does not prevent the chief electoral officer from exercising that power or performing that duty.

(4)A person may not be appointed as an officer unless that person has signed the prescribed undertaking, which must include an undertaking to be bound by—

(a)the Code; and

(b)a declaration of secrecy.

(5)All officers must be impartial and exercise their powers and perform their duties independently and without fear, favour or prejudice.

(6)An officer may not, whether directly or indirectly, in any manner give support to, or oppose, any registered party or candidate contesting an election, or any of the issues in contention between parties or candidates.

(7)An officer may not place in jeopardy that officer’s perceived independence, or harm the credibility, impartiality, independence or integrity of the Commission, by any membership, association, statement or conduct.

(8)An officer is not liable for any loss suffered by a person as a result of an act performed or omitted in good faith in the exercise of a power or the performance of a duty in terms of this Act.

(9)An officer may be removed from office by the chief electoral officer on account of—

(a)misconduct, incompetence of incapacity;

(b)absence from duty without leave of the chief electoral officer;

(c)bias;

(d)a material contravention of this section;

(e)a material contravention of the declaration of secrecy; or

(f)any other consideration related to free and fair elections.

(10)No appeal may be brought against a decision by the chief electoral officer to appoint a person as an officer, or to remove an officer from office.

(11)An officer may resign from office by giving one calendar month’s notice in writing to the chief electoral officer.

(12)The chief electoral officer may appoint, in accordance with this Part, a person to fill a vacancy caused by the death of the removal or resignation from office of an officer.

83. General provisions concerning appointment of institutions

(1)In this section, "institution" means an institution appointed by the chief electoral officer in terms of section 80.

(2)

(a)An institution and its employees exercise the powers and perform the duties assigned to the institution subject to the directions, control and discipline of the chief electoral officer.

(b)The chief electoral officer must determine in writing the terms and conditions of appointment of an institution, including—

(i)the services, facilities and employees to be made available to the Commission by that institution;

(ii)the powers and duties assigned to that institution; and

(iii)any remuneration payable to that institution.

(3)The assignment of a power or duty to an institution does not prevent the chief electoral officer from exercising that power or performing that duty.

(4)An institution must ensure that an employee of that institution who exercises a power or performs a duty in terms of this Act is not—

(a)a candidate contesting that election;

(b)an agent in that election; or

(c)holds political office in a registered party.

(5)An institution may not be appointed unless that institution, and each of its employees who will exercise powers and perform duties in terms of this Act, have signed the prescribed undertaking, which must include an undertaking to be bound by a declaration of secrecy.

(6)Every institution must ensure that it, and its employees, exercise their powers and perform their duties impartially and independently and without fear, favour or prejudice.

(7)An institution, and each of its employees who exercises powers and performs duties in terms of this Act, may not, whether directly or indirectly, in any manner give support to, or oppose, any registered party or candidate contesting an election, or any of the issues in contention between parties or candidates.

(8)An institution, and each of its employees who exercises powers and performs duties in terms of this Act, may not place in jeopardy their perceived independence, or harm the credibility, impartiality, independence or integrity of the Commission, by any membership, association, statement or conduct.

(9)An institution and its employees are not liable for any loss suffered by any person as a result of any act performed or omitted in good faith in the exercise of any power or the performance of a duty in terms of this Act.

(10)The chief electoral officer may revoke the appointment of an institution on account of that institution’s—

(a)incapacity or incompetence;

(b)bias; or

(c)failure to adequately discipline and control its employees exercising any powers or performing any duties in terms of this Act.

(11)An institution must immediately terminate an employee’s exercise of any power or performance of any duty in terms of this Act on account of that employee’s—

(a)misconduct, incompetence or incapacity;

(b)absence from duty without leave of the chief electoral officer;

(c)bias;

(d)material contravention of this section;

(e)material contravention of the declaration of secrecy; or

(f)conduct which is not conducive to free and fair elections.

(12)No appeal may be brought against a decision by the chief electoral officer to appoint an institution, or to revoke the appointment of an institution.

(13)An institution may terminate its appointment by giving two calendar months’ notice in writing to the chief electoral officer.

(14)The chief electoral officer may appoint, in accordance with this Part, another institution in the place of an institution whose, appointment, has been revoked or terminated.

Part 5 – Accreditation of observers and persons providing voter education

84. Accreditation of observers

(1)Any juristic person may apply to the Commission in the prescribed manner for accreditation to observe an election.

(2)The Commission may require further information in support of an application.

(3)The Commission may accredit an applicant to observe an election after considering the application, any further information provided by the applicant, and whether—

(a)the accreditation of the applicant will promote conditions conducive to a free and fair election; and

(b)the persons appointed by the applicant will—

(i)observe that election impartially and independently of any registered party or candidate contesting that election;

(ii)be competent and professional in observing that election; and

(iii)subscribe to a Code governing observers issued by the Commission in terms of section 99.

(4)The Commission may decide—

(a)to accredit the applicant, in which case, the Commission must—

(i)enter the applicant’s name in the register of persons accredited as observers;

(ii)issue a certificate of accreditation in the applicant’s name stating the period and other conditions of accreditation; and

(iii)send the certificate to the applicant; or

(b)not to accredit the applicant, in which case the Commission must advise the unsuccessful applicant in writing of its decision.

(5)If a person accredited as an observer fails to comply to a material extent with the conditions of the accreditation, the Commission may cancel that accreditation after having given reasonable notice of the cancellation to that person.

(6)Any person may inspect the register and copies of the certificates of persons accredited as observers. The register and copies of the certificates must be kept at the Commission’s head office.

(7)The chief electoral officer must provide a certified copy of, or extract from, that register or a certificate to any person who has paid the prescribed fee.

85. Powers and duties of accredited observers

(1)A person appointed by an accredited observer may, in relation to the election for which that observer is accredited, observe the proceedings provided for in—

(a)Part 1 of Chapter 4 concerning voting;

(b)Parts 2 and 3 of Chapter 4 concerning the counting of votes; and

(c)Part 5 of Chapter 4 coaming the determination and declaration of the election results.

(2)Whilst observing an election, a person appointed by an accredited observer must wear the prescribed identification indicating that the person is representing an accredited observer.

(3)A person appointed by an accredited observer must comply with any order issued by—

(a)an officer; or

(b)a member of the security services acting on the instructions of an officer.

86. Accreditation of persons providing voter education

(1)Any juristic person may apply to the Commission in the prescribed manner for accreditation to provide voter education for an election.[subsection (1) substituted by section 15 of Act 1 of 2019]

(2)The Commission may require further information in support of an application.

(3)The Commission may accredit an applicant to provide voter education for an election after considering the application, any further information provided, by the applicant, and whether—

(a)the services provided by the applicant meet the Commission’s standards;

(b)the applicant is able to conduct its activities effectively;

(c)the applicant or the persons appointed by the applicant to provide voter education will—

(i)do so in a manner that is impartial and independent of any registered party or candidate contesting that election;

(ii)be competent to do so; and

(iii)subscribe to a Code issued by the Commission under section 99 governing persons accredited to provide voter education; and[subparagraph (iii) substituted by section 21 of Act 34 of 2003]

(d)the accreditation of the applicant will promote voter education and conditions conducive to free and fair elections.

(4)Section 84(4) to (7), adjusted as may contextually be necessary, applies to the accreditation of persons providing voter education.

Chapter 7
General provisions

Part 1 – Prohibited conduct

87. Undue influence

(1)No person may—

(a)compel or unlawfully persuade any person—

(i)to register or not to register as a voter;

(ii)to vote or not to vote;

(iii)to vote or not to vote for any registered party or candidate;

(iv)to support or not to support any registered party or candidate; or

(v)to attend and participate in, or not to attend and participate in, any political meeting, march, demonstration or other political event;

(b)interfere with the independence or impartiality of the Commission, any member, employee or officer of the Commission, or the chief electoral officer;

(c)prejudice any person because of any past, present or anticipated performance of a function in terms of this Act;

(d)advantage, or promise to advantage, a person in exchange for that person not performing a function in terms of this Act;

(e)prevent any of the following persons from gaining reasonable access to voters, whether in a public or private place:

(i)Any representative of a registered party or of a candidate;

(ii)any candidate in an election;

(iii)any member, employee or officer of the Commission;

(iv)the chief electoral officer;

(v)any person appointed by an accredited observer; or

(vi)any person accredited to provide voter education;

[paragraph (e) amended by section 16(a) of Act 1 of 2019]

(f)unlawfully prevent the holding of any political meeting, march, demonstration or other political event; or[paragraph (f) amended by section 16(b) of Act 1 of 2019]

(g)use public funds, except for the funds allocated to a party in terms of section 5 of the Public Funding of Represented Political Parties Act, 1997 (Act No. 103 of 1997), for the purpose of a political campaign.[paragraph (g) added by section 16(c) of Act 1 of 2019]

(2)Subject to this Act, no person may prevent anyone from exercising a right conferred by this Act.

(3)No person, knowing that another person is not entitled to be registered as a voter, may—

(a)persuade that other person that that other person is entitled to be registered as a voter; or

(b)represent to anyone else that that other person is entitled to be registered as a voter.

(4)No person, knowing that another person is not entitled to vote, may—

(a)assist, compel or persuade that other person to vote; or

(b)represent to anyone else that that other person is entitled to vote.

88. Impersonation

No person—

(a)may apply to be registered as a voter in the name of any other person, whether living, dead or fictitious;

(b)may apply for a ballot paper at a voting station in the name of another person, whether living, dead or fictitious;

(c)who is not entitled to vote in an election or at a voting station, may vote in that election or at that voting station;

(d)may cast more votes than that person is entitled to; or

(e)may impersonate—

(i)a representative of a registered party or of a candidate;

(ii)a candidate in an election;

(iii)a member, employee or officer of the Commission;

(iv)the chief electoral officer;

(v)a person appointed by an accredited observer; or

(vi)a person accredited to provide voter education.

89. Intentional false statements

(1)No person, when required in terms of this Act to make a statement, may make the statement—

(a)knowing that it is false; or

(b)without believing on reasonable grounds that the statement is true.

(2)No person may publish any false information with the intention of—

(a)disrupting or preventing an election;

(b)creating hostility or fear in order to influence the conduct or outcome of an election; or

(c)influencing the conduct or outcome of an election.

90. Infringement of secrecy

(1)No person may interfere with a voter’s right to secrecy while casting a vote.

(2)Except as permitted in terms of this Act, no person may—

(a)disclose any information about voting or the counting of votes; or

(b)open any ballot box or container sealed in terms of this Act, or break its seal.

91. Prohibitions concerning voting and election materials

(1)Except as permitted in terms of this Act, no person may—

(a)print, manufacture or supply any voting or election material;

(b)remove or conceal any voting or election material;

(c)damage or destroy any voting or election material; or

(d)use the voters’ roll or any voting or election material for a purpose other than an election purpose.

(2)The chief electoral officer may authorise—

(a)the printing, manufacture or supply of any voting or election material;

(b)the use of the voters’ roll or any voting or election material for a purpose other than an election purpose; and

(c)the removal or destruction of any voting or election material.

92. Prohibitions concerning placards and billboards during election

From the date on which an election is called to the date the result of the election is determined and declared in terms of section 57, no person may deface or unlawfully remove any billboard, placard or poster published by a registered party or candidate.

93. Obstruction of, or non-compliance with, directions of Commission, chief electoral officer and other officers

(1)No person may refuse or fail to give effect to a lawful direction, instruction or order of the Commission, or a member, employee or officer of the Commission, or the chief electoral officer.

(2)A person may not obstruct or hinder the Commission, or a person mentioned in subsection (1), or a person appointed by an accredited observer, in the exercise of their powers or the performance of their duties.

94. Contravention of Code

No person, registered party or independent candidate bound by the Code may contravene or fail to comply with a provision of that Code.[section 94 substituted by section 14 of Act 1 of 2023]

Part 2 – Enforcement

95. Institution of and intervention in civil proceedings by chief electoral officer

(1)Subject to this Act and any other law, the chief electoral officer may institute civil proceedings before a court, including the Electoral Court, to enforce a provision of this Act or the Code.

(2)The chief electoral officer may intervene in any civil proceedings if the Commission has a legal interest in the outcome of those proceedings.

96. Jurisdiction and powers of Electoral Court

(1)The Electoral Court has final jurisdiction in respect of all electoral disputes and complaints about infringements of the Code, and no decision or order of the Electoral Court is subject to appeal or review.

(2)If a court having jurisdiction by virtue of section 20(4)(b) of the Electoral Commission Act finds that a person or registered party has contravened a provision of Part 1 of this Chapter it may in the interest of a free and fair election impose any appropriate penalty or sanction on that person or party, including—

(a)a formal warning;

(b)a fine not exceeding R200 000;

(c)the forfeiture of any deposit paid by that person or party in terms of section 27(2)(e) or paid by an independent candidate in terms of section 31B(3)(b);[paragraph (c) substituted by section 15 of Act 1 of 2023]

(d)an order prohibiting that person or party from—

(i)using any public media;

(ii)holding any public meeting, demonstration, march or other political event;

(iii)entering any voting district for the purpose of canvassing voters or for any other election purpose;

(iv)erecting or publishing billboards, placards or posters at or in any place;

(v)publishing or distributing any campaign literature;

(vi)electoral advertising; or

(vii)receiving any funds from the State or from any foreign sources;

(e)an order imposing limits on the right of that person or party to perform any of the activities mentioned in paragraph (d);

(f)an order excluding that person or any agents of that person or any candidates or agents of that party from entering a voting station;

(g)an order reducing the number of votes cast in favour of that person or party;

(h)an order disqualifying the candidature of that person or of any candidate of that party; or

(i)an order cancelling the registration of that party.

(3)Any penally or sanction provided for in this section will be in addition to any penalty provided for in Part 3 of this Chapter.

Part 3 – Offences and penalties

97. Offences

Any person who contravenes a provision of Part 1 of this Chapter or a provision of section 107, 108 or 109, is guilty of an offence.

98. Penalties

Any person convicted of any offence in terms of—

(a)section 87(1)(b), (c) or (d), 89(2), 90, 91, 93 or 94, is liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 10 years;

(b)section 87(1)(a), (e) or (f), (2), (3) or (4), 88, 89(1), 92, 107(4), 108 or 109 is liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years,

Part 4 – Additional powers and duties of Commission

99. Electoral Code of Conduct and other Codes

(1)The Electoral Code of Conduct must be subscribed to—

(a)by every registered party before that party is allowed to contest an election;[paragraph (a) amended by section 16 of Act 1 of 2023]

(b)by every candidate before that candidate may be placed on a list of candidates in terms of section 31; and[paragraph (b) amended by section 16 of Act 1 of 2023]

(c)by every independent candidate before that independent candidate may be placed on a list of independent candidates in terms of section 31F.[paragraph (c) added by section 16 of Act 1 of 2023]

(1A)A Code is binding from the date on which the notice calling an election is published to the date on which the result of the election is declared.[subsection (1A) inserted by section 15 of Act 4 of 2021]

(2)In order to promote free, fair and orderly elections, the Commission may compile and issue any other Code.

(3)The Commission may change or replace a Code issued in terms of subsection (2).

(4)A Code issued in terms of subsection (2), or a change to or replacement of such a Code, must be published in the Government Gazette.

100. Regulations

(1)The Commission must make regulations regarding any matter that must be prescribed in terms of this Act.

(2)The Commission may make regulations, after consultation with the national political liaison committee, regarding any matter—

(a)that may be prescribed in terms of this Act; or

(b)that it considers necessary or expedient in order to achieve the objects of this Act.

[subsection (2) amended by section 17 of Act 1 of 2023]

(3)Regulations made in terms of this section may prescribe a fine or a period of imprisonment not exceeding one year for a contravention of or a failure to comply with a provision of the regulations.

(4)The Commission must publish any regulations made in terms of this section in the Government Gazette.

101. Assignment of powers and duties by Commission

(1)The Commission may—

(a)delegate any of the Commission’s powers in terms of this Act, excluding the powers referred to in section 32, 99(2) or 100 or this section, or any other law, to a member, employee or officer of the Commission; or

(b)instruct a member, employee or officer of the Commission to perform any of the Commission’s duties in terms of this Act or any other law.

(2)A delegation or instruction in terms of subsection (1)—

(a)is subject to any limitations and conditions the Commission may impose; and

(b)does not prevent the Commission from exercising or performing the assigned power or duty.

102. Assignment of powers and duties by chief electoral officer

(1)The chief electoral officer may—

(a)delegate any of the chief electoral officer’s powers in terms of this Act or any other law, to an employee or officer of the Commission; or

(b)instruct an employee or officer of the Commission to perform any of the chief electoral officer’s duties in terms of this Act or any other law.

(2)Section 101(2), adjusted as may contextually be necessary, applies to a delegation or instruction of the chief electoral officer in terms of subsection (1).

103. Powers to decide objections and appeals

(1)Whenever the Commission, an officer or the chief electoral officer is required in terms of this Act to decide an objection or an appeal, the Commission or that person may attempt to resolve the issue that is the subject of the objection or appeal, through conciliation.

(2)The Commission must prescribe the powers that may be exercised by it, any officer, or the chief electoral officer in deciding an objection or appeal in terms of this Act.

103A. Conciliation in disputes and complaints

The Commission may attempt to resolve through conciliation any electoral dispute or complaint about an infringement of the Code brought to its notice by anyone involved in the dispute or complaint.[section 103A inserted by section 22 of Act 34 of 2003]

104. Access to private places

(1)Members, employees and officers of the Commission have access to private places when that access is necessary for the exercise of a power or the performance of a duty assigned to them by or under this Act.

(2)A person mentioned in subsection (1) must ensure that reasonable attempts to notify the occupier of any such private place have been made.

[section 104 substituted by section 23 of Act 34 of 2003]

105. Ownership of voting and election materials, and disposal

(1)The Commission is regarded as owning all voting and election materials used or provided by it in an election.

(2)Unless the Electoral Court orders otherwise, the Commission may dispose of the voting and election materials used in a particular election after six months after the date on which the final result of the election was declared, in the manner directed by the Commission.

106. Return or forfeiture of deposit

(1)Subject to section 96(2)(c), the Commission must refund to a registered party any deposit paid by it in terms of section 27(2)(e) if the party is allocated at least one seat in the legislature whose election that party contested.

(1A)Subject to section 96(2)(c), the Commission must refund to an independent candidate any deposit paid by such candidate in terms of section 31B(3)(b) if the candidate is allocated a seat in the legislature whose election the independent candidate contested.[subsection 1A inserted by section 18(a) of Act 1 of 2023]

(2)A deposit that is not refundable in terms of subsection (1) or (1A) is forfeited to the State.[subsection (2) substituted by section 18(b) of Act 1 of 2023]

Part 5 – Other general provisions

107. Temporary obligations

(1)

(a)This section is applicable only from the date on which an election is called to the date the result of the election is determined and declared in terms of section 57.

(b)For the purposes of this section, "printed matter" means any billboard, placard, poster or pamphlet.

(2)Any printed matter intending to affect the outcome of an election must state clearly the full name and address of the printer and publisher.

(3)The publisher of any publication must head an article in that publication with the word "advertisement" if that article—

(a)originates from—

(i)a registered party, a person who holds political office in that party, or any member or supporter of that party; or

(ii)a candidate contesting an election or supporter of that candidate; and

(b)is inserted in the publication in the promise of payment to the publication.

(4)No person may print, publish or distribute any printed matter or publication that does not comply with this section.

108. Prohibition on certain political activities

On voting day no person may—

(a)hold or take part in any political meeting, march, demonstration or other political event; or

(b)engage in any political activity, Other than casting a vote, in the area within the boundary of a voting station.

109. Prohibition on publication of exit polls

During the prescribed hours for an election, no person may print, publish or distribute the result of any exit poll taken in that election.

110. Effect of certain irregularities

(1)Any mistake in the certified segment of the voters' roll referred to in section 24, the final list of candidates referred to in section 31, or the final list of independent candidates referred to in section 31F, does not invalidate that voters’ roll, that list of candidates, or that list of independent candidates.[subsection (1) substituted by section 19 of Act 1 of 2023]

(2)An election may not be set aside because of a mistake in the conduct of that election or a failure to comply with this Act, unless the mistake or failure materially affected the result of the election.

111. Inspection and copying of documents

Where this Act requires that documents be publicised, or made available for inspection or copying, the Commission must endeavour to also publicise or make available those documents by way of electronic technology.

112. Prohibition on certain strikes and lockouts

(1)The service provided by the Commission is an essential service for the purpose of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of 1995).

(2)Strikes and lockouts on voting day by employees and employers in the public transport or telecommunication sector are prohibited and are not protected in terms of Chapter IV of the Labour Relations Act, 1995.

113. Limitation of liability

The Commission, a member, employee and officer of the Commission, the chief electoral officer, an institution appointed in terms of section 80, and a person with whom the Commission has contracted to work for the Commission, is not liable for any loss suffered by any person as a result of any act performed or omitted in good faith in the course of exercising a power or performing a duty assigned by or under this Act.

114. Composition of National Assembly and provincial legislatures

The formulas referred to in sections 46(2) and 105(2) of the Constitution are set out in Schedule 3.

115. Repeal of laws

(1)Subject to subsection (2), the laws mentioned in Schedule 4 are hereby repealed.

(2)Anything done in terms of a provision of any law repealed by subsection (1) and which could be done in terms of a provision of this Act, must be regarded to have been done in terms of the last-mentioned provision.

116. Act binds State

This Act binds the State except in so far as criminal liability is concerned.

117. Application of Act when in conflict with other laws

If any conflict arises between a provision of this Act and a provision of any oilier law, except the Constitution or an Act of Parliament expressly amending this Act, the provision of this Act prevails.

118. Short title and commencement

(1)This Act is called the Electoral Act, 1998.

(2)Subject to subsection (3), this Act takes effect on a date determined by the President by proclamation in the Government Gazette.

(3)Section 3(c) must take effect on a later date than the remainder of this Act.

Schedule 1 (Section 20)

Election timetable

The Electoral Commission hereby gives notice that it has in terms of section 20 of the Electoral Act, 1998, compiled the election timetable set out below to apply to the ______________ (particulars of relevant election) that will be held on ______________ (date(s)). (A reference to “section” in this election timetable is a reference to that section of the Electoral Act, 1998.)

1.Cut-off time for act to be performedAn act required in terms of this Act to be performed by not later than a date stated in the election timetable must be performed before 17:00 on that date.

1A.By ____ [day/month/year], the chief electoral officer must give notice of the periods during which and the venues where the provisionally compiled voters’ roll compiled for the election shall be available for inspection in terms of section 14(1)(e).[item 1A inserted by section 17(a) of Act 1 of 2019]

1B.By______[day/month/year], any objections in terms of section 15 in respect of the provisionally compiled voters’ roll for the election must be made.[item 1B inserted by section 17(a) of Act 1 of 2019]

1C.By ____ [day/month/year], the Commission must decide any objection made in terms of section 15 in respect of the provisionally compiled voters’ roll for this election and notify the objector and the chief electoral officer and a person other than the objector whose name or registration details are involved.[item 1C inserted by section 17(a) of Act 1 of 2019]

2.Cut-off date for publication of voters’ rollBy ________ [day/month/year], the chief electoral officer must publish the voters’ roll or the segments of the voters’ roll to be used in this election in terms of section 24(2).

3.Notice that list of addresses of voting stations is available for inspectionThe chief electoral officer must give notice by ________ [day/month/year] that from the date of the notice until the voting day copies of a list containing the addresses of all voting stations will be available for inspection.

4.Cut-off date for submission of list of candidates and nominations of independent candidates[heading of item 4 substituted by section 20(a) of Act 1 of 2023]

(1)Registered parties that intend to contest this election must nominate and submit a list of their candidates for the election to the chief electoral officer in the prescribed manner by ________ [day/month/year].[subitem(1) previously unnumbered, numbered by section 4 ofAct 1 of 2023]

(2)Nominators of independent candidates that intend to contest this election must submit their nominations to the chief electoral officer in the prescribed manner by ________ [day/month/year].[subitem (2) inserted by section 20(a) of Act 1 of 2023]

5.Notice of non-compliance

(1)The chief electoral officer must notify a registered party that has submitted a list of candidates in terms of section 27 but has not fully complied with section 27(2)(a), (b), (cA), (d) or section 27(4), of that non-compliance by ____ [day/month/year].[subitem (1) substituted by section 20(b) of Act 1 of 2023]

(1A)The chief electoral officer must notify the person nominated to be an independent candidate, who has not fully complied with section 31B(3)(c), (d), (e), (f) or section 31B(4), of that non-compliance by ________ [day/month/year].[subitem (1A) inserted by section 20(c) of Act 1 of 2023]

(2)If the party or person notified in terms of subitem (1) or (1A) takes the opportunity to comply with section 27(2)(a), (b), (cA), (d), section 27(4), section 31B(3)(c), (d), (e), (f) or section 31B(4) that party or person must do so by ____ [day/month/year].[subitem (2) substituted by section 20(d) of Act 1 of 2023]

5A.Multiple nominations

(1)The Commission must notify a candidate whose name appears on more than one party list for an election submitted in terms of section 27 and all the parties on whose party lists such a candidate appears by ____ (date).

(1A)The Commission must notify—

(a)a person who has been nominated both as an independent candidate and by one or more parties for an election; and

(b)all the parties on whose party lists such a candidate appears, of the multiple nominations by ____________ [day/month/year].

[subitem (1A) inserted by section 20(e) of Act 1 of 2023]

(2)If the notified party decides to act in terms of section 28(3) or subsection 31C(3), that party must do so by ____ (date).[subitem (2) substituted by section 20(f) of Act 1 of 2023]

[item 5A inserted by section 17(b) of Act 1 of 2019]

6.Inspection of lists of candidates and draft list of independent candidates and accompanying documentsThe chief electoral officer must give notice by ____ [day/month/year], that from the date of the notice until ____ [day/month/year], copies of the following documents will be available for inspection:

(a)The lists of candidates and accompanying documents submitted by registered parties in terms of section 27, as amended and supplemented in terms of section 28;and

(b)the draft list of independent candidates and accompanying documents submitted in terms of section 31B, as amended and supplemented in terms of section 31C.

[item (6) substituted by section 20(g) of Act 1 of 2023]

7.Cut-off date for objectionsAny person, including the chief electoral officer, may object to a candidate to the Commission in the prescribed manner by ____ [day/month/year].

8.Decision of objectionsThe Commission must decide an objection under section 30 or section 31E, and must notify the objector and the registered party that nominated the candidate and the nominated independent candidate, if applicable, of the decision in the prescribed manner by ____ [day/month/year].[item 8 substituted by section 20(h) of Act 1 of 2023]

9.Cut-off date for appeals against decisions

(1)The objector or the registered party who nominated the candidate may appeal against a decision of the Commission in terms of section 30(4) to the Electoral Court in the prescribed manner by ____ [day/month/year];

(2)The objector or the nominated independent candidate may appeal against a decision of the Commission in terms of section 31E(4) in the prescribed manner by ________________ [day/month/year].

[item 9 substituted by section 20(i) of Act 1 of 2023]

10.Deciding appealsThe Electoral Court must consider and decide an appeal brought under section 30(4) or 31E(4) and notify the parties to the appeal, and the chief electoral officer, of the decision in the prescribed manner by ____________ [day/month/year].’[item 10 substituted by section 20(j) of Act 1 of 2023]

11.List of parties and candidates entitled to contest election and final list of candidatesBy ____ [day/month/year], the chief electoral officer—

(a)must give effect to a decision of the Commission in terms of section 30(3), section 31E(3), or a decision of the Electoral Court in terms of section 30(5) or section 31E(5); andmust compile a list of the registered parties entitled to contest the election, the final list of candidates for each of those parties, and the list of independent candidates contesting this election.

[item 11 substituted by section 20(k) of Act 1 of 2023]

12.Issue of certificate to candidatesBy ____ [day/month/year], the chief electoral officer must issue in the prescribed manner to each candidate on a final list of candidates, and to each independent candidates, a certificate stating that the person is a candidate in this election in terms of section 31(3) and section 31F(3).[item 12 substituted by section 20(l) of Act 1 of 2023]

13.[item 13 deleted by section 24(b) of Act 34 of 2003]

14.[item 14 deleted by section 24(b) of Act 34 of 2003]

15.Notice of route of mobile voting stationsIf the Commission decides to use mobile voting stations in the election, the chief electoral officer must give notice by ____ [day/month/year] of the route, including, the locations and estimated times of stopping of each mobile voting station.

[Schedule 1 amended by section 24(a) of Act 34 of 2003]

Schedule 1A (Section 57A)

System of representation in National Assembly and provincial legislatures

[Schedule 1A inserted by section 25 of Act 34 of 2003 and substituted by section 21 of Act 1 of 2023]

National Assembly

1.The seats in the National Assembly are as determined in terms of section 46 of the Constitution and item 1 of Schedule 3 and are allocated as follows:

(a)Half the seats are filled by independent candidates and candidates from lists of candidates of parties contesting the nine regions and these shall be referred to as regional seats; and

(b)half the seats are filled by candidates from lists of candidates of parties and these shall be referred to as compensatory seats.

2.The Commission must prepare a list of independent candidates contesting an election of the National Assembly in each region in accordance with this Act.

(1)Registered parties contesting an election of the National Assembly must nominate candidates on a list of candidates prepared in accordance with this Act

(2)A party’s list of candidates must consist of—

(a)a regional list for each region that the party wishes to contest; and

(b)a national list,

with such number of names on each list as the party may determine subject to subitem (3).

(3)The lists of candidates submitted by a party must together not contain more names than the number of seats in the National Assembly, and each such list must denote the fixed order of preference of the names as the party may determine.

(4)A candidate—

(a)may be nominated on a party’s regional list for one region and the national list of a party but the same candidate’s name may not appear on more than one regional list for that party; or

(b)may be nominated as an independent candidate in more than one region.

Regional seats

4.The Commission must determine a fixed number of seats reserved for each region for every election of the National Assembly, taking into account available scientifically based data in respect of voters and representations by interested parties

5.The seats referred to in item 1(a) must be allocated to the parties and independent candidates contesting an election, as follows:

(a)A quota of votes per seat must be determined in respect of each region by dividing the total number of valid votes cast in a region by the number of seats, plus one, reserved for such region under item 4.

(b)The result plus one, disregarding fractions, is the quota of votes per seat in respect of a particular region.

(c)The number of seats to be awarded for the purposes of paragraph (e) in respect of such region to a party or independent candidate must, subject to paragraph (d), be determined by dividing the total number of votes cast in favour of such party or independent candidate in a region by the quota of votes per seat indicated by paragraph (b) for that region.

(d)Where the result of the calculation referred to in paragraph (c) yields seats not absorbed by the number awarded to parties or independent candidates, the surplus of votes accruing to any party, parties or independent candidates in respect of the relevant region, competes for the remaining seats in sequence of the highest surplus of votes.

(e)The aggregate of a party’s or independent candidate’s awards in terms of paragraphs (c) and (d) in respect of a particular region indicates that party’s or that independent candidate’s provisional allocation of the seats reserved under item 4 for that region.

(f)Where an independent candidate’s award in terms of paragraph (e) exceeds one seat, the candidate is awarded one seat as his or her provisional allocation. The excess seats must be dealt with in terms of item 7.

(g)If the same independent candidate is provisionally allocated a seat in more than one region, the candidate is awarded the seat in the region where he or she received the highest proportion of votes, as his or her provisional allocation. The excess seats in other regions must be dealt with in terms of item 7.

(h)The aggregate of a party’s provisional allocations for the various regions in terms of paragraph (e), indicates its provisional allocation of the seats referred to in item 4.

(i)If no recalculation of provisional allocations is required in terms of item 7, the provisional allocation of such seats in terms of paragraphs (e), (f), (g) and (h) becomes the final allocation of such seats to the various parties and independent candidates, and if a recalculation is required, the provisional allocation of such seats, as adjusted in terms of item 7, becomes the final allocation of such seats to the various parties and independent candidates.

(j)Parties’ seats shall be filled from its regional lists in accordance with its final allocation of seats in respect of each region.

(k)Where an independent candidate is contesting in more than one region, the votes received across regions for that independent candidate may not be aggregated in order to obtain a seat in the National Assembly

Compensatory seats

6.The seats referred to in item 1(b) must be allocated to the parties contesting an election, as follows:

(a)A quota of votes per seat must be determined by dividing the total number of valid votes cast for parties on both the regional and compensatory ballots by the total number of seats in the National Assembly, plus one, minus seats won by independent candidates, and the result plus one, disregarding fractions, is the quota of votes per seat.

(b)The number of seats to be awarded to a party for the purposes of paragraph (d) must, subject to paragraph (c), be determined by dividing the total number of votes cast on both the regional and compensatory ballots in favour of such party by the quota of votes per seat determined in terms of paragraph (a).

(c)Where the result of the calculation referred to in paragraph (b) yields seats not absorbed by the number awarded to parties, the surplus of votes accruing to any party or parties competes for the remaining seats in sequence of the highest surplus of votes, up to a maximum of five seats so awarded: Provided that the subsequent award of seats still remaining must be made in sequence of the party or parties with the highest average number of votes per seat already awarded in terms of paragraph (b) and this paragraph.

(d)The aggregate of a party’s awards in terms of paragraphs (b) and (c) must be reduced by the number of seats allocated to it in terms of item 5(i) and the result indicates that party’s provisional allocation of the seats referred to in item 1(b).

(e)If no recalculation of provisional allocations is required in terms of item 7 in respect of the seats referred to in paragraph (d), the provisional allocation of such seats in terms of paragraph (d) becomes the final allocation of such seats to the various parties, and if such a recalculation is required, the provisional allocation of such seats, as adjusted in terms of item 7, becomes the final allocation of seats to the various parties.

(f)In terms of paragraph (e), the seats finally allocated to a party, must be filled from its national list.

Insufficient names on party lists and independent candidates provisionally allocated more than one seat

(1)If a party has submitted a national or a regional list containing fewer names than the number of its provisional allocation of seats which would have been filled from such list in terms of item 5 or item 6 had such provisional allocation been the final allocation, it forfeits a number of seats equal to the deficit.

(2)

(a)If, following the provisional allocation in item 5, an independent candidate stands to be allocated more than one seat in a region, he or she is only allocated one seat and forfeits any additional seats.

(b)If, following the provisional allocation in item 5, an independent candidate stands to be allocated a seat in more than one region, he or she is only allocated a seat in the region where he or she received the highest proportion of votes and shall forfeit any additional seats.

(3)In the event of any forfeiture of seats in terms of subitem (1) and subitem (2) affecting the provisional allocation of seats in respect of any particular region in terms of item 5(e), such allocation must be recalculated as follows:

(a)The party or independent candidate forfeiting seats must be disregarded in such recalculation, and its provisional allocation of seats in terms of item 5(e) for the region in question, minus the number of seats forfeited by it, becomes its final allocation in respect of the seats reserved for such region in terms of item 4.

(b)An amended quota of votes per seat must be determined in respect of such region by dividing the total number of votes cast in the region, minus the number of votes cast in such region in favour of the party or independent candidate referred to in paragraph (a), by the number of seats, plus one, reserved for such region under item 4, minus the number of seats finally allocated to the said party or independent candidate, in terms of paragraph (a).

(c)The results plus one, disregarding fractions, is the amended quota of votes per seat in respect of such region for purposes of the said recalculation.

(d)The number of seats to be awarded for the purposes of paragraph (f) in respect of such region to a party or independent candidate participating in the recalculation, must, subject to paragraph (e), be determined by dividing the total number of votes cast in favour of such party or independent candidate in such region by the amended quota of votes per seat indicated by paragraph (c) for such region.

(e)Where the result of the calculation referred to in paragraph (d) yields seats not absorbed by the number awarded to parties or independent candidates, the surplus of votes accruing to any party, parties or independent candidates in respect of the relevant region, competes for the remaining seats in sequence of the highest surplus of votes.

(f)The aggregate of a party’s or independent candidate’s awards in terms of paragraphs (d) and (e) in respect of such region, subject to subitem (5) and subitem (6), indicates that party’s or independent candidate’s final allocation of seats reserved under item 4 for that region.

(4)In the event of any forfeiture of seats in terms of subitem (1) affecting the provisional allocation of seats in terms of item 6(d), such allocation must be recalculated as follows:

(a)The party forfeiting seats must be disregarded in such recalculation, and its provisional allocation of seats in terms of item 6(d), minus the number of such seats forfeited by it, becomes its final allocation of the seats referred to in item 1(b).

(b)An amended quota of votes per seat must be determined by dividing the total number of votes cast nationally on both the regional and compensatory ballots, minus the number of votes cast nationally on both the regional and compensatory ballots in favour of the party referred to in paragraph (a), by the number of seats in the National Assembly, plus one, minus the number of seats finally allocated to the said party in terms of paragraph (a), minus the aggregate of seats won by independent candidates.

(c)The result plus one, disregarding fractions, is the amended quota of votes per seat for the purposes of the said recalculation.

(d)The number of seats to be awarded for the purpose of paragraph (f) to a party participating in the recalculation must, subject to paragraph (e), be determined by dividing the total number of votes cast nationally in favour of such party by the amended quota of votes per seat indicated by paragraph (c).

(e)Where the result of the calculation referred to in paragraph (d) yields seats not absorbed by the number awarded to parties, the surplus of votes accruing to any party or parties competes for the remaining seats in sequence of the highest surplus of votes, up to a maximum of five seats so awarded: Provided that the subsequent award of seats still remaining must be made in sequence of the party or parties with the highest average number of votes per seat already awarded in terms of paragraph (d) and this paragraph.

(f)The aggregate of such a party’s awards in terms of paragraphs (d) and (e) must be reduced by the number of seats finally allocated to it in terms of item 5(i), and the results, subject to subitem (5) indicates that party’s final allocation of the seats referred to in item 1(b).

(5)In the event of a party being allocated an additional number of seats in terms of this item, and if its list in question then does not contain the names of a sufficient number of candidates as set out in subitem (1), the procedure provided for in this item must be repeated with the changes required by the context until all seats have been allocated.

(6)In the event that an independent candidate stands to be allocated more than one seat in terms of subitem (3)(f), the procedure provided for in subitem (3), must be repeated with the changes required by the context until all seats have been allocated.

Provincial legislatures

8.The number of seats in each provincial legislature are as determined in terms of section 105 of the Constitution and item 3(1) of Schedule 3.

(1)Registered parties contesting an election of a provincial legislature must nominate candidates for election to such provincial legislature on a provincial list of candidates prepared in accordance with this Act, with such number of candidates on each list as the party may determine subject to subitem (2).

(2)The list of candidates submitted by a party must not contain more names than the number of seats in the provincial legislature concerned, and must denote the fixed order of preference of the names as the party may determine.

10The Commission must prepare a list of independent candidates contesting an election of a provincial legislature in accordance with this Act.

11.The seats determined for a provincial legislature must be allocated to parties and independent candidates contesting an election, as follows:

(a)A quota of votes per seat must be determined by dividing the total number of valid votes cast in the province concerned by the number of seats, plus one, determined for such province and the result plus one, disregarding fractions, is the quota of votes per seat for such province

(b)The number of seats to be awarded to a party or independent candidate for the purposes of paragraph (d) must, subject to paragraph (c), be determined by dividing the total number of votes cast in the province in favour of such party or independent candidate by the quota of votes per seat determined in terms of paragraph (a)

(c)Where the result of the calculation referred to in paragraph (b) yields seats not absorbed by the number awarded to parties or independent candidates, the surplus of votes accruing to any party, parties or independent candidates in respect of the relevant province, competes for the remaining seats in sequence of the highest surplus of votes.

(d)The aggregate of a party’s or independent candidate’s awards in terms of paragraphs (b) and (c), indicates that party’s or independent candidate’s provisional allocation of seats in the provincial legislature in question.

(e)Where an independent candidate’s award in terms of paragraph (d) exceeds one seat, the candidate is awarded one seat as his or her provisional allocation. The surplus of seats yielded must be dealt with in terms of item 12.

(f)If no recalculation of provisional allocations for a province concerned is required in terms of item 12, the provisional allocation of seats in respect of that province in terms of paragraph (d), becomes the final allocation of such seats to the various parties and independent candidates, and if such a recalculation is required the provisional allocation of such seats as adjusted in terms of item 12 becomes the final allocation of such seats to the various parties and independent candidates

(g)In terms of paragraph (f) the seats finally allocated to a party, must be filled from its respective provincial lists.

12.

(1)If a party has submitted a provincial list containing fewer names than the number of seats provisionally allocated to it in terms of item 11(d), it must forfeit a number of seats equal to the deficit

(2)If, following the provisional allocation in item 11(d), an independent candidate stands to be allocated more than one seat in a region, he or she is only allocated one seat and forfeits any additional seats.

(3)In the event of any forfeiture of seats in terms of subitems (1) or (2), the allocation of seats in respect of the province concerned must be recalculated as follows:

(a)The party or independent candidate forfeiting seats must be disregarded in such recalculation, and its provisional allocation of seats in terms of item 11(d), minus the number of seats forfeited by it, becomes its final allocation of seats in the provincial legislature concerned.

(b)An amended quota of votes per seat must be determined in respect of such province by dividing the total number of votes cast in the province, minus the number of votes cast in the province in favour of the party or independent candidate referred to in paragraph (a) by the number of seats, plus one, determined in terms of item 8 in respect of the province concerned, minus the number of seats finally allocated to the said party in terms of paragraph (a).

(c)The result plus one, disregarding fractions, is the amended quota of votes per seat in respect of such province for purposes of the said recalculation.

(d)The number of seats to be awarded for the purposes of paragraph (f) in respect of such province to a party or independent candidate participating in the recalculation must, subject to paragraph (e), be determined by dividing the total number of votes cast in favour of such party or independent candidate in such province by the amended quota of votes per seat indicated by paragraph (c) for such province

(e)Where the result of the calculation referred to in paragraph (d) yields seats not absorbed by the number awarded to parties or independent candidates, the surplus of votes accruing to any party, parties or independent candidates in respect of the relevant province, competes for the remaining seats in sequence of the highest surplus of votes.

(f)The aggregate of such a party’s or independent candidate’s awards in terms of paragraphs (d) and (e) in respect of such province, subject to subitems (4) and (5), indicates that party’s or independent candidate’s final allocation of the seats determined under item 8 in respect of that province.

(4)In the event of a party being allocated an additional number of seats in terms of subitem (3)(f) and if its list in question then does not contain the names of a sufficient number of candidates as set out in subitem (1), the process provided for in this item must be repeated with the changes required by the context until all seats have been allocated.

(5)In the event that an independent candidate stands to be allocated more than one seat in terms of subitem (3)(f), the procedure provided for in subitem (3), must be repeated with the changes required by the context until all seats have been allocated.

Ballot papers

13.

(1)The Commission must produce separate ballot papers for each regional election of members to the National Assembly, the compensatory seats of members to the National Assembly and of members to each provincial legislature.

(2)The ballot paper to be used in each region for the election of members of the National Assembly shall include only parties and independent candidates standing in that region for election to the National Assembly

(3)The ballot for a provincial legislature shall include the names of parties and independent candidates standing for elections in that province.

Designation of representatives of parties

14.

(1)After the counting of votes has been concluded, the number of representatives of each party has been determined and the election result has been declared in terms of section 190(1)(c) of the Constitution, the Commission must, within two days after such declaration, designate from each list of candidates, the representatives of each party in the National Assembly and provincial legislature

(2)Following the designation in terms of subitem (1), if a candidate’s name appears on more than one list for the National Assembly or on lists for both the National Assembly and a provincial legislature (if an election of the National Assembly and a provincial legislature is held at the same time), and such candidate is due for designation as a representative in more than one case, the party which submitted such lists must, within two days after the said declaration, indicate to the Commission from which list such candidate will be designated or in which legislature the candidate will serve, as the case may be, in which event the candidate’s name must be deleted from the other lists.

(3)If a party fails to indicate to the Commission from which list a candidate will be designated or in which legislature a candidate will serve, such candidate’s name must be deleted from all the lists.

(4)The Commission must forthwith publish the list of names of representatives in the National Assembly or provincial legislatures.

Supplementation of lists of candidates of parties

15.A party may not supplement a list of candidates for any legislature prior to the designation of representatives in terms of item 14.

16.After the designation of representatives in terms of item 14 has been concluded, parties may supplement their lists of candidates by the addition of an equal number of names at the end of the applicable list, if—

(a)a representative is elected as the President or to any other executive office as a result of which he or she resigns as a representative of a legislature;

(b)a representative is appointed as a permanent delegate to the National Council of Provinces;

(c)a name is deleted from a list in terms of item 14(2) or (3); or

(d)a vacancy has occurred and the appropriate list of candidates of the party concerned is depleted.

17.A party may supplement a list of candidates referred to in item 14(1) on one occasion only at any time during the first 12 months following the date on which the designation of representatives in terms of item 14 has been concluded, in order to fill casual vacancies: Provided that any such supplementation must be made at the end of the list.

18.Lists of candidates may, after the designation of representatives in terms of item 16 has been concluded, be supplemented by the addition of an equal number of names at the end of the applicable list, if—

Review of lists of candidates by part

19.A party may review its undepleted lists as supplemented in terms of items 16, 17 and 18, within seven days after the expiry of the period referred to in item 17, and annually thereafter, until the date on which a party has to submit lists of candidates for an ensuing election, in the following manner:

(a)All vacancies may be supplemented;

(b)no more than 25 per cent of candidates may be replaced; and

(c)the fixed order of lists may be changed

Publication of supplemented and reviewed lists of candidates

20.The Secretary to Parliament and the Secretaries of the provincial legislatures must publish lists of candidates supplemented in terms of items 16 and 17 or reviewed in terms of item 19 within 10 days after the receipt of such lists from the parties concerned.

Designation of seats of independent candidates

21.

(1)If an independent candidate is finally allocated a seat in accordance with item 11(f) as well as in accordance with item 5(i), such independent candidate must within two days after the said final allocation, indicate to the Commission the seat he or she elects to retain or in which legislature the independent candidate will serve, as the case may be, in which event the independent candidate’s name must be deleted from the relevant other list and the recalculation performed in terms of item 23.

(2)If an independent candidate fails to indicate to the Commission from which list such independent candidate will be designated or in which legislature an independent candidate will serve, such independent candidate’s name must be deleted from all the lists and both the regional and provincial recalculations performed in terms of item 23.

Vacancies

22.

(1)In the event of a vacancy in a legislature of a seat allocated to a party, the party which the vacating member represented must fill the vacancy by nominating a person—

(a)whose name appears on the list of candidates from which that party’s members were originally nominated; and

(b)who is the next qualified and available person on the list.

(2)A nomination to fill a vacancy must be submitted to the Speaker of the legislature in writing

(3)If a party represented in a legislature dissolves or ceases to exist and the members in question vacate their seats in consequence of section 47(3)(c) or section 106(3)(c) of the Constitution, the seats in question must be allocated to the remaining parties with the changes required by the context as if such seats were vacated seats in terms of item 23 and item 24, as the case may be.

23.

(1)In the event of a vacancy in a region or provincial legislature with respect to a seat allocated to an independent candidate, the chief electoral officer must in writing allocate the seat by recalculating the result as follows:

(a)disregarding the votes allocated to the independent candidate causing the vacancy;

(b)disregarding the votes and seats allocated to the independent candidates already in office; and

[subitem (1) substituted by section 8 of Act 55 of 2008]

(c)recalculating the result for the region or provincial legislature in terms of the provisions in subitem (3).

(2)The vacant seat is awarded to an eligible independent candidate or party that contested the preceding election in terms of subitem (1)(c).

(3)

(a)An amended quota of votes per seat must be determined in respect of such region or province by dividing the total number of votes cast in the region or province, minus the number of votes cast in the region or province in favour of the independent candidate causing the vacancy, minus the votes cast in such region or province in favour of independent candidates already allocated one seat, by the number of seats, plus one, determined in terms of item 4 or item 8 in respect of the region or province concerned, minus the seats held by independent candidates

(b)The result plus one, disregarding fractions, is the amended quota of votes per seat in respect of such region or province for purposes of the said recalculation.

(c)The number of seats to be awarded for the purposes of paragraph (e) in respect of such region or province to a party or independent candidate participating in the recalculation must, subject to paragraph (d), be determined by dividing the total number of votes cast in favour of such party or independent candidate in such region or province by the amended quota of votes per seat indicated by paragraph (b) for such region or province.

(d)Where the result of the calculation referred to in paragraph (c) yields seats not absorbed by the number awarded to parties or independent candidates, the surplus of votes accruing to any party, parties or independent candidates participating in the recalculation, competes for the remaining seats in sequence of the highest surplus of votes

(e)The aggregate of such a party’s awards in terms of paragraphs (c) and (d) in respect of such region or province, subject to paragraph (f), indicates that party’s or independent candidate’s final allocation of the seats determined under item 4 or item 8 in respect of that region or province.

(f)In the event of a party being allocated an additional number of seats in terms of this item and if its list in question then does not contain the names of a sufficient number of candidates as set out in item 7(1) or item 12(1), the process provided for in item 24 must be repeated with the changes required by the context until all seats have been allocated.

24.

(1)Should any party or independent candidate stand to lose a seat during the recalculation contemplated in item 23, the party or independent candidate will retain the seat.

(2)A recalculation must be done as follows:

(a)disregarding the votes and seat allocated to the party or independent candidate contemplated in subitem (1);

(b)disregarding the votes and seats allocated to independent candidates already in office; and

(c)recalculating the result for the region or provincial legislature in terms of the provisions in subitem (3).

(3)

(a)An amended quota of votes per seat must be determined in respect of such region or province by dividing the total number of votes cast in the region or province, minus the number of votes cast in the region or province in favour of the party or independent candidate standing to lose a seat, minus the votes cast in such region or province in favour of independent candidates already allocated one seat, by the number of seats, plus one, determined in terms of item 4 or item 8 in respect of the region or province concerned, minus the seat or seats retained by the party or independent candidate, minus the seats held by the independent candidate.

(b)The result plus one, disregarding fractions, is the amended quota of votes per seat in respect of such region or province for purposes of the said recalculation.

(c)The number of seats to be awarded for the purposes of paragraph (f) in respect of such region or province to a party or independent candidate participating in the recalculation must, subject to paragraph (d), be determined by dividing the total number of votes cast in favour of such party or independent candidate in such region or province by the amended quota of votes per seat indicated by paragraph (b) for such region or province.

(d)Where the result of the calculation referred to in paragraph (c) yields seats not absorbed by the number awarded to parties or independent candidates, the surplus of votes accruing to any party, parties or independent candidates participating in the recalculation, competes for the remaining seats in sequence of the highest surplus of votes.

(f)In the event of a party being allocated an additional number of seats in terms of this item and if its list in question then does not contain the names of a sufficient number of candidates as set out in item 7(1) or item 12(1), the process provided for in this subitem must be repeated with the changes required by the context until all seats have been allocated.

Definitions

25.In this Schedule—‘Constitution’ means the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, (Act No. 108 of 1996);‘national list’ means a list of candidates prepared by a party for an election of the National Assembly to reflect that party’s order of preference of candidates in respect of the allocation of seats on a national basis;‘provincial list’ means a list of candidates prepared by a party for an election of a provincial legislature;‘region’ means the territorial area of a province;‘regional list’ means a list of candidates in respect of a region prepared by a party for an election of the National Assembly to reflect that party’s order of preference of candidates in respect of the allocation of seats in respect of such region;‘votes’ means—(a)where it occurs in items 5, 6, 7 and 9, votes cast in an election for the National Assembly;(b)where it occurs in items 13 and 14, votes cast in the election for the provincial legislature of a province concerned; and(c)where it occurs in item 16, votes cast in the election for the National Assembly and the provincial legislatures.

Schedule 2 (Section 99)

Electoral Code of Conduct

1.Purpose of CodeThe purpose of this Code is to promote conditions that are conducive to free and fair elections, including—

(a)tolerance of democratic political activity; and

(b)free political campaigning and open public debate.

2.Promotion of CodeEvery registered party and every candidate bound by this Code must—

(a)promote the purpose of the Code when conducting an election;

(b)publicise the Code widely in any election campaigns; and

(c)promote and support efforts in terms of this Act to educate voters.

3.Compliance with Code and electoral lawsEvery registered party and every candidate must—

(a)comply with this Code;

(b)instruct—

(i)in the case of a party, its candidates, persons who hold political office in, the party, and its representatives, members and supporters, to comply with this Code and any applicable electoral laws; or

(ii)in the case of a candidate, the representatives and supporters of the candidate to comply with this Code and any applicable electoral laws;

(c)take all reasonable steps to ensure—

(i)to the case of a party, that its candidates, persons who hold political, office in the party, and its representatives, members and supporters; comply with this Code and any applicable electoral laws; or

(ii)in the case of a candidate, that the representatives and supporters of the candidate comply with this Code and any applicable electoral laws;

4.Public commitment

(1)Every registered party and every Candidate must—

(a)publicly state that everyone has the right—

(i)to freely express their political beliefs and opinions;

(ii)to challenge and debate the political beliefs and opinions of others;

(iii)to publish and distribute election and campaign materials, including notices and advertisements;

(iv)to lawfully erect banners, billboards, placards and posters;

(v)to canvass support for a party or candidate;

(vi)to recruit members for a party;

(vii)to hold public meetings; and

(viii)to travel to and attend public meetings; and

(b)publicly condemn any action that may undermine the free and fair conduct of elections.

(2)Every registered party and every candidate must accept the result of an election or challenge the. result in a court.

5.Duty to co-operateEvery registered party and every candidate must liaise with other parties contesting an election and endeavour to ensure that they do not call a public meeting, march, demonstration, rally or any other public political event at the same time and place as that called by another party contesting the election.

6.Role of womenEvery registered party and every candidate must—

(a)respect the right of women to communicate freely with parties and candidates;

(b)facilitate the full and equal participation of women in political activities;

(c)ensure the free access of women to all public political meetings, marches, demonstrations, rallies and other public political events; and

(d)take all reasonable steps to ensure that women are free to engage in any political activities.

7.Role of CommissionEvery registered party and every candidate must—

(a)recognise the authority of the Commission in the conduct of an election;

(b)assure voters of the Commission’s impartiality;

(c)give effect to any lawful direction, instruction or order of the Commission, or a member, employee or officer of the Commission, or the chief electoral officer;

(d)establish and maintain effective lines of communication with—

(i)the Commission; and

(ii)other registered parties contesting the election;

(e)facilitate the access of members, employees and officers of the Commission, and the chief electoral officer, to public meetings, marches, demonstrations, rallies and other public political events of that party or candidate;

(f)co-operate in any investigation of the Commission;

(g)take all reasonable steps to ensure—

(i)the safety of members, employees and officers of the Commission, and the chief electoral officer, in the exercise of any power or the performance of any duty assigned by or under this Act;

(ii)that persons referred to in subparagraph (i) are not subjected to insult, hazard or threat by any representatives or supporters of that party or candidate; and

(iii)that representatives of that party or candidate attend meetings of any political liaison committee or other forum convened by the Commission.[subparagraph (iii) substituted by section 22 of Act 1 of 2023]

8.Role of mediaEvery registered party and every candidate—

(a)must respect the role of the media before, during and after an election conducted in terms of this Act;

(b)may not prevent access by members of the media to public political meetings, marches, demonstrations and rallies; and

(c)must take all reasonable steps to ensure that journalists are not subjected to harassment, intimidation, hazard, threat or physical assault by any of their representatives or supporters.

9.Prohibited conduct

(1)No registered party or candidate may—

(a)use language or act in a way that may provoke—

(i)violence during an election; or

(ii)the intimidation of candidates, members of parties, representatives or supporters of parties or candidates, or voters;

(b)publish false or defamatory allegations in connection with an election in respect of—

(i)a party, its candidates, representatives or members; or

(ii)a candidate or that candidate’s representatives;

(c)plagiarise the symbols, colours or acronyms of other registered parties; or

(d)discriminate on the grounds of race, ethnicity, sex, gender, class or religion in connection with an election or political activity.

(2)No person may—

(a)offer any inducement or reward to another person—

(i)to join or not to join a party;

(ii)to attend or not to attend a public meeting, march, demonstration, rally or other public political event;

(iii)to vote or not to vote, or to vote or not to vote in any particular way; or

(iv)to refuse a nomination as a candidate or to withdraw as a candidate; or

(b)carry or display arms or weapons—

(i)at a political meeting; or

(ii)in any march, demonstration, rally or other public political event;

(c)unreasonably prevent any other person access to voters for the purpose of voter education, collecting signatures, recruiting members, raising funds or canvassing support for a party or candidate;

(d)deface or unlawfully remove or destroy the billboards, placards, posters or any other election materials of a party or candidate; or

(e)abuse a position of power privilege or influence, including parental, patriarchal, traditional or employment authority to influence the conduct or outcome of an election.

10.Additions to CodeThe Commission may by Regulations made in terms of section 100 add provisions to this Code.

Schedule 3 (Section 114)

Composition of National Assembly and provincial legislatures

1.Formula for determining number of members of National Assembly

(1)By taking into account available scientifically based data and representations by interested parties, the number of seats of the National Assembly must be determined by awarding one seat for every 100 000 of the population with a minimum of 350 and a maximum of 400 seats.

(2)If the total number of seats for all provincial legislatures determined in terms of item 2 exceeds 400, the number of seats for the National Assembly may not be less than 400.

2.Formula for determining number of members of provincial legislaturesBy taking into account available scientifically based data and representations by interested parties, the number of seats of a provincial legislature must be determined by awarding one seat for every 100 000 of the population whose ordinary place of residence is within that province, with a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 80 seats.

3.Commission responsible, for determination of seats

(1)The determination of seats contemplated in items 1 and 2 must be completed by the Commission before every election and the Commission must publish such a determination in the prescribed manner.[subitem (1) substituted by section 16 of Act 4 of 2021]

(2)The Commission must give notice in the Government Gazette of the time and date on which, and the venue where, the determination is to take place, and must afford interested parties an opportunity to make representations before the determination is made.

4.Determination to be published in Government GazetteA determination made in terms of this Schedule must be published in the Government Gazette within 14 days of the determination, and takes effect on ths date it is published.

Electoral Act, 1998

Act 73 of 1998

Collections

Related documents

Electoral Act, 1998

Act 73 of 1998

Chapter 1Interpretation, application and administration of Act

1. Definitions

2. Interpretation of this Act

3. Application of Act

4. Administration of this Act

Chapter 2Registration of voters, and voters’ roll

5. National common voters’ roll

6. Persons who may apply for registration as voter

7. Applications for registration as voter

8. Registration

9. Applications to change registration details

10. Applications for deregistration as voter

11. Amendments to voters’ roll by chief electoral officer

12. Notification by chief electoral officer

13. Appeal against decisions and steps of chief electoral officer

14. General registration of voters

15. Objections to voters’ roll

16. Publication and copies of voters’ roll

Chapter 3Proclamation of and preparations for elections

Part 1 – Proclamation of elections

17. Proclamation of elections of National Assembly

18. Proclamation of elections of provincial legislatures

19. ***

20. Election timetables

21. General postponement of elections

22. Postponement of voting at voting station

23. Revote at voting station

Part 2 – Voters' roll

24. Voters’ roll for election

24A. Voting in voting district where voter not registered

24B. Prisoners

25. Voters’ roll for first elections of National Assembly and provincial legislatures

Part 3 – Parties contesting election, and lists of candidates

26. Requirements for parties to contest election

27. Submission of lists of candidates

28. Non-compliance concerning submission of lists of candidates

29. Inspection of copies of lists of candidates and accompanying documents

30. Objections to lists of candidates

31. List of parties entitled to contest election and final lists of candidates

Part 3A. Independent candidates

31A. Nomination of independent candidate

31B. Requirements for independent candidates to contest elections

31C. Non-compliance

31D. Inspection of copies of lists of independent candidates and accompanying documents

31E. Objections to independent candidates

31F. List of independent candidates entitled to contest election

Part 4 – Municipal councils

32. ***

Part 5 – Special votes and declaration votes

33. Special votes in eletion for National Assembly

33A. Special votes in election for provincial legislatures

34. ***

Chapter 4Elections

Part 1 – Voting

35. Officers at voting stations

36. Hours of voting

37. Initial procedures

38. Voting procedure

39. Assistance to certain voters

40. Issue of new ballot papers

41. Objections concerning voting

42. Sealing of full ballot boxes

43. Completion of form and sealing of voting materials

44. Mobile voting stations

45. More than one election on same day

Part 2 – Counting of votes at voting station

46. Place and time of counting of votes

47. Counting of votes and determination of provisional results

48. Objections concerning sorting of ballot papers

49. Objections concerning counting of votes and determination of provisional results

50. Procedure concerning provisional results and voting materials

Part 3 – Counting of votes at place other than voting station

51. Application of Part and procedures

52. Verification procedure

Chapter 1
Interpretation, application and administration of Act

Chapter 2
Registration of voters, and voters’ roll

Chapter 3
Proclamation of and preparations for elections

Chapter 4
Elections

Chapter 5
Agents

Chapter 6
Administration

Chapter 7
General provisions