- Political parties, candidates and supporters who break Election Day campaigning rules could be prosecuted and face up to five years in prison.
- Inside voting station boundaries, you may not display party posters, hand out pamphlets, or try to influence voters in any way.
- Political meetings, marches, demonstrations and other organised political events are not allowed outside voting stations. However, low-key campaigning is still permitted.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has warned political parties, candidates and their supporters that violating electoral regulations governing political activities on Election Day could result in criminal prosecution, fines or imprisonment of up to five years.
The IEC outlined the activities prohibited during the local government elections, cautioning that campaigning restrictions apply both inside and outside voting station boundaries.
The warning comes as voting stations across the country remain open for the elections, having opened at 7am and scheduled to close at 9pm. Voters already within voting station boundaries at closing time will still be assisted to cast their ballots.
Campaigning inside voting stations could constitute an offence
The IEC has prohibited political parties and their supporters from conducting any form of campaigning within the demarcated boundaries of voting stations.
The prohibited activities include displaying or distributing party billboards, posters, placards or pamphlets. Political representatives and supporters may also not attempt to induce, influence or persuade anyone to vote or not to vote for a particular political party. Attempts to persuade people not to vote at all are equally prohibited.
The Commission stressed that casting ballots is the only permissible political activity within voting station boundaries. It further explained that one of the first responsibilities of a presiding officer is to establish the boundaries of the voting station in consultation with party agents. This determines the area within which the campaigning restrictions apply.
Political meetings and marches also prohibited
The IEC has also clarified that political activity outside voting stations is not entirely prohibited, but certain organised activities remain unlawful. Political meetings, marches, demonstrations and other political events are prohibited outside the demarcated boundaries of voting stations.
However, the Commission said the law does not impose a blanket campaign silence on Election Day, meaning low-key political campaigning may continue outside voting station boundaries, provided it complies with the applicable legal framework.
The distinction is intended to allow limited political activity while preventing organised public events that could interfere with the electoral process.
Offenders face fines or imprisonment
The Commission warned that anyone who contravenes the applicable legal framework governing political activities on Election Day commits an offence. Upon conviction, offenders face a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years.
The IEC called on political parties, candidates, party supporters and voters to comply with the regulations, saying the provisions are intended to ensure that voters can freely exercise their right to vote while allowing low-key campaigning to continue without organised public events.
Voters urged to verify registration details
Meanwhile, the IEC has encouraged voters to visit their voting stations early and verify their registration details before casting their ballots. Voters can check their registration information by sending their identity document number via WhatsApp to 0600 88 0000 or by SMS to 32810, at a cost of R1 per message.
They can also contact the call centre on 0800 11 8000 or visit its website to confirm their registration details. The IEC said voters would receive the name of their registered voting station and their sequence number on the voters’ roll.
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