N5 Municipal Admin Module 8 Municipal Elections

BONAMELO CAMPUS MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION N5 HLANGABEZA M.T. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

MODULE 8: MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS Voter qualifications • South African citizen • Minimum age of 18 • In possession of valid identity document • Registered to vote on the municipal voter’s roll ___________________________________________________ Disqualification to vote • Not a South African citizen • Fraudulently applied for registration • Unsound mind or mentally disordered • Detained under the Prevention and Treatment of Drug • Not a resident in the voting district Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Procedure to prepare a voters’ roll  There is a time period for the completion of the voter’s roll  Forms are available for residents to register if they qualify  Specific person (employee of LA) appointed to prepare it  After expiry date, a list is compiled with the following info: - serial number, ID number, residential address, etc.  Preliminary voters’ roll advertised in the local newspapers  It is open for inspection at the IEC offices  After inspection, the IEC decides on the objections and requests  Hearings take place and final decision is made by the Commission  It is published and voters’ roll is now ready to use on election day to control voting Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Electoral wards Electoral wards When deciding on the number of wards, the following criteria are used:  The number of councillors must be determined before wards can be calculated  The number of registered voters in an area must be identified  Topographical and physical characteristics of the area are taken into account  The availability and location of places for voting and counting are determined  The density of the population is considered, as more voting stations are needed for greater density areas  The safety and security of voters and election material have to be taken into account Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Elections Elections Main responsibilities of the IEC  Manage the elections on all the three spheres of the government  Ensure that elections are free and fair  Declare results of the vote  Compile and maintain voters’ roll  Compile and maintain a register of parties  Promote voter education  Appoint officials on all levels of the government _______________________________________________________________ Activities prior to Election day: (Read your prescribed textbook) - Election timetable - IEC local representative - Voters’ roll - Parties contesting the election - Nomination of ward candidates Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Officials during elections: Officials during elections Presiding officers:  Manage, co-ordinate and supervise the voting at the voting station  Take all the necessary steps to ensure orderly conduct at voting station  Order, if needed, security to assist in ensuring orderly conduct  Exercise any other duty imposed by the Act Voting officers: - The IEC also appoints voting officers who assist the presiding officer with duties on election day Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Officials during elections Counting officers and counters: - At each voting station a counting officer and deputy counting officer are appointed by the IEC whose duties are managing, supervision and counting of votes. - A counter is also a person who help the counting officer with the counting of votes Agents: - Is a person appointed by the political party or by an independent ward candidate who may observe the proceedings concerning voting, counting and declaration of results - An agent may not interfere with the proceedings but may lodge an objection, if alleged irregularities are suspected, to the presiding officer or counting officer Observers: - An organisation may apply to the IEC to be an observer at an election who will only observe and be present at the election proceedings Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Voting materials Voting materials  Ballot papers  Ballot boxes  Voting booths/compartments  Stationery  Furniture  A certified copy of the voters’ roll for the specific municipality  An official mark on all ballot papers  Marking ink Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Duties of officials at voting stations Duties of officials at voting stations:  ballot boxes checked and sealed before opening  furniture and stationery are available  the layout of voting station is effective  open and close at the prescribed time  the voters vote in secret in the voting compartments  voter verified at the voter’s roll  ballot papers are issued and recorded  ensure order at the voting station  ballot boxes sealed after closing  ballot boxes and election material are handed to the presiding officer Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Advantages Advantages of Political parties (Party politics)  Encourage voters to vote  Formulate constructive policies  Identify political candidates to stand for elections  Require accountability from municipalities  Prevent candidates from preventing their own interests, and  Can discipline candidates Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Disadvantages Disadvantages of Political parties (Party politics):  Political party participation can exclude candidates  By contesting elections on a party political basis, it puts a municipal authority more in the lime light and is therefore engaged in the broader political sphere  It can happen that a candidate with great potential to become a good councilor be excluded if he or she does not belong to a political party  Party political interests will sometimes be of more importance than the interests of the residents  Higher authorities can intervene on local level  The best possible candidate, who will serve the interests of the voters best, is not always elected if he does not belong to a specific party Downloaded from hlayiso.com

END OF PRESENTATION THANK YOU VERY MUCH, HLANGABEZA M.T. Downloaded from hlayiso.com