Welcome to the Access to Information section of the Electoral Commission of South Africa website. In line with South Africa's commitment to transparency and accountability, the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (PAIA) provides a legal framework that ensures public access to information held by public bodies like the Electoral Commission.
Understanding PAIA
The Promotion of Access to Information Act empowers individuals to request information from public and private institutions. Its purpose is to foster a culture of openness and enhance democratic processes by giving citizens the ability to exercise their constitutional right to access information.
At the Electoral Commission, we are committed to promoting free, fair, and credible elections. Access to information is central to this mission, as it allows the public to scrutinise electoral processes, understand decisions made by the Commission, and participate fully in South Africa’s democracy.
Where can you obtain a copy of PAIA?
The current version of PAIA can be found
here
on the South African Government website.
Where can you obtain a copy of the Electoral Commission's PAIA Manual?
The latest version of our PAIA Manual can be found
here.
Your right to information
As a member of the public, you have the right to request:
- Records held by the Electoral Commission regarding its operational activities, electoral processes, and any other matters related to its mandate.
- Details about decisions made by the Commission that impact your voting rights, political participation, or any aspect of electoral governance.
We strive to make our processes transparent and ensure you have the information needed to engage with the democratic system.
How to make a PAIA request?
To request information from the Electoral Commission in terms of PAIA, you may:
- Submit a formal written request by completing the PAIA request form (Form A).
- Indicate the specific information or records you require, along with any other necessary details to assist us in processing your request.
- Send your completed request via email, post, or in person to the designated Information Officer.
You can find the relevant PAIA Request Form and more details about the process
here.
Who may request information under PAIA?
A requestor in respect of a public body is defined in PAIA to mean any person, or someone acting on their behalf, except certain organs of state or functionaries or institutions exercising powers or performing a duty in terms of the Constitution or a provincial constitution. A requestor–
- can thus be an individual
- does not need to be a South African citizen
- can also be any juristic person, such as a company or an association.
This means that voters and members of the public may request access to the Electoral Commission records in terms of PAIA.
Response times and fees
We will acknowledge receipt of your request and respond within the timeframe stipulated by the PAIA Act, typically within 30 days. Certain requests may incur fees, as outlined in our PAIA Manual, available
here.
- A request fee: If you request access to records containing personal information about yourself you will not be required to pay the request fee. Any other request must be accompanied by the required request fee as stipulated in the Manual. The request fee is not refundable.
- An access fee: If the request is granted an access fee must be paid for the reproduction of records and for time in excess of one hour to search and prepare the records for disclosure. Where the time to prepare the records for disclosure is likely to exceed six hours, a deposit of one third of the anticipated access fee may be required as a deposit.
- How to pay the fees: The Electoral Commission has a prescribed manner in which payments are made. When your request has been considered, the Information Officer or Deputy Information Officer will contact you after receiving your application for access to information and payment details will then be given to you.
Our commitment to transparency
The Electoral Commission upholds the principles of transparency, accountability, and public participation. We aim to make information accessible, while protecting sensitive data as required by law.
If you have any questions about your right to access information or the process involved, please contact our Information Officer using contact details below.