The Electoral Commission confirms that the date of the 2024 general
elections was proclaimed by the President and all the provincial Premiers on
Friday, 23 February 2024. The proclamation of the election date has certain
legal consequences for the electoral process.
The first major implication is that the voters’ roll has now closed.
This means no further voter registration may take place, either at a local
office or online. Voter verifications as well as other validations are
currently underway to ensure that there is compliance with the provisions of
the law in respect of eligibility to vote.
The second 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 Saturday, 24 February 2024.
The timetable is the motive force in the intensive preparations for the delivery of
the 2024 general elections. The timetable outlines all the key cut-off-times
and dates for the performance of salient electoral activities. The timetable
contains crucial performance dates for election contestants as well as the
broad voting public. As regards the
voting public, the focal point is accessing the voting process through special
arrangements including dates for applications for special votes and
notifications to vote outside of voting stations of registration.
As it pertains to contestants, the timetable is equally crucial in that
it contains key dates to be complied with relating to the nomination of
candidates and the payment of prescribed deposits.
To give further details of the timetable, the Electoral Commission brings
the following important activities and cut-off dates to the attention of South
Africans:
Voters’ Roll Activities
The provisional voters’ roll will be
published for inspection today. An electronic version of the voters’ roll will be
made available at all offices of the Commission for inspection purposes. Those
who wish to object to the inclusion or exclusion of a voter on the voters’ roll
must do so by 4 March 2024. The objections received on or before 4 March 2024
will be considered, investigated and determined by the Commission by 11 March
2024.
It is important to remind role-players that
objections to the voters’ roll are governed by the law. As such, both the
procedural as well as the substantive requirements of Section 15 of the
Electoral Act must be satisfied when lodging an objection. The pertinent
aspects in this regard, include outlining the relief sought and establishing
the basis for such relief as well as serving the objection on the person
against whom the objection is raised.
Following the determination of voters’
roll objections, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) will certify the voters’
roll on 12 March 2024. Electronic copies
of the certified voters’ roll will be made available to contestants and a printed
copy will be prepared for use in voting stations on Election Day.
Candidate Nomination
This is a landmark election marking 30
years of electoral democracy, but it also introduces novel experiences for the voters
such as a third ballot in National and Provincial Elections as well as the
participation of independent candidates for the very first time.
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.
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 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.
Voting Stations
The official list of the 23 292 voting stations to be used in these
elections will be availed for inspection from 12 April 2024. This list will
include the addresses of voting stations as well as the stopping times of the 33
mobile voting stations. The project of contracting these voting stations well
advanced.
Special Votes In-country
(South Africa)
The electoral scheme also provides a
dispensation for voters in special circumstances. Those who are infirm and
confined and, thus, unable to reach voting stations, must apply to be visited for
a special vote at home. On the other
hand, those who will not be in their voting districts on 29 May 2024 may apply
for a special vote to cast ballots ahead of Election Day. Both home visits and
voting station based special votes will happen on two days, 27 and 28 May
2024. The applications for special votes will close on 3 May 2024.
Special Votes Out-of-country
Those who intend to vote outside of the
country and who are registered on a specific country’s segment of the voters’
roll, do not have to give notice to the CEO that they will be voting in that
country. The law assumes that they will be voting at the diplomatic mission of
registration.
Those registered elsewhere including
locally registered voters who intend to vote at a particular diplomatic mission
outside the country, must give notice to the CEO of their intention to vote in
that country. The notice to vote out of country may be submitted as of today
until 22 April 2024. An online notification facility (VEC10) is available on
the Electoral Commission’s website.
Special voting at the diplomatic
missions will happen either Friday, 17 May 2024, or Saturday, 18 May 2024. The exact date for each diplomatic mission
will be determined considering the host’s country dominant religious and
cultural practices.
Voting outside of the Voting Station of
Registration on Election Day
The Electoral Commission re-emphasises the
general principle of election administration that voters must vote where they
are registered. However, in the event a voter intends to be in a different
voting district on voting day, such a voter must notify the Commission of their
intended absence from their voting district and the voting station where they
wish to cast the vote. A notification portal will soon be launched for this
purpose. Notifications in this regard will close on 17 May 2024.
The Electoral
Commission reiterates its willingness and ability to deliver this mammoth
national project. The publication of the timetable and the cut-off-dates it
entails serve as an impetus for the intensification of the preparations. All
staff of the Electoral Commission stand ready to fulfil their tasks and thus
ensure that it meets its constitutional duties pertaining to the 2024 general
elections.
This is our democracy, let’s own it.
ISSUED BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
Ensuring free, fair and credible elections
For media queries: Please contact
Kate Bapela on 082 600 6386
For media interviews: Please email
requests to: [email protected]
Follow us on social media: