When:
Friday, 23 February 2024 8:00 AM
-
Friday, 08 March 2024 5:00 PM
The proclamation of the 2024 National and Provincial Elections
date by the President and all the provincial Premiers on 23 February 2024, had
certain legal consequences for the electoral process.
One such implication is that the Electoral Commission is
enjoined to publish an Election Timetable following consultation with the
National Political Liaison Committee. This political consultation was also
conducted on 23 February 2024, paving the way for the publication of the
timetable. Accordingly, the 2024 timetable was published on 24 February 2024.
The timetable outlines all the key
cut-off-times and dates for the performance of various electoral activities.
The timetable contains crucial performance dates for election contestants as
well as the broad voting public.
For purposes of candidate nomination, the Electoral Commission
promotes the use of the online Candidate Nomination (CNS) platform. It is
convenient and facilitates compliance with the requirements of the law as it
provides a compliance dashboard for users. Furthermore, the online platform
generates pro-forma invoices and a payment gateway for the payment of
prescribed deposits.
Find out more about contesting the elections here.
All independent candidates and political parties who intend to contest
this general election must submit nomination requirements by 17:00 on 8 March
2024. The
deadline applies to both online submissions and in-person submissions at the
Electoral Commission’s National Office in Centurion.
The Electoral Commission will, after verifying the submitted
nomination documents, issue notices on non-compliance where such are warranted.
These notices will be issued on 18 March 2024 and those issued with such
notices must rectify non-compliance by 20 March 2024.
In previous
elections, there were candidates who were nominated by more than one political
party. The law now obliges the Electoral Commission to notify affected
parties and offer them an opportunity to either remove the said candidate and
substitute or confirm their continued candidature. These notifications will be
issued on 22 March 2024 and political parties have until 25 March 2024 to
submit requests for removal, substitution or confirmation of candidature.
Our
electoral scheme acknowledges that it is a matter of immense national
importance for the citizens to know who the nominated candidates are. The
publication of the provisional lists of candidates goes to the heart of the
vote based on informed choices. Therefore, the provisional lists of candidates
will be published for inspection on 26 and 27 March.
Interested
parties may object against certain prospective candidates who are nominated.
Such objections must be lodged with the Commission on 27 March 2024. The
Commission will decide on these objections on 28 March 2024.
Any person
or political party or entity that is not satisfied with decision of the
Commission may approach the Electoral Court to appeal the objection decision.
The Electoral Court’s appeals must be lodged by 02 April 2024. The Electoral
Court will determine appeals relating to candidates on 9 April 2024.
With all
compliance matters and objections relating to candidates resolved, the
Electoral Commission will publish the final lists of candidates on 10 April
2024 and certificates of candidature will be issued to certified candidates on
12 April 2024.
The conclusion of the candidate nomination process will set in
motion the ballot paper printing project.