Government Gazette

Vol. 401, No. 19527, 24 November 1998

Regulation Gazette, No. 6363

No. R. 1488

GOVERNMENT NOTICE

ELECTORAL COMMISSION

REGULATIONS ON THE ACCREDITATION OF VOTER EDUCATION PROVIDERS AND CODE FOR ACCREDITED VOTER EDUCATION PROVIDERS

  1. The Electoral Commission has in terms of section 100 of the Electoral Act, 1998 (Act No. 73 of 1998), made the regulations in Schedule A.
  2. The Electoral Commission has in terms of section 99, read with section 86 of the Electoral Act, 1998 (Act No. 73 of 1998), compiled and issued the Code in Schedule B.

SCHEDULE A

Definitions

1. In these Regulations any word or expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Act shall have that meaning and, unless the context otherwise indicates -

  1. "accredited person" means a person accredited to provide voter education in terms of section 86 of the Act;
  2. "the Act" means the Electoral Act, 1998 (Act No. 73 of 1998).

Application for accreditation to provide voter education

2. A person applying for accreditation to provide voter education for an election must complete an application form similar to Appendix 1 and deliver the completed application form, together with any documentation in support of the application, at the offices of the Commission in Pretoria.

Certificate accreditation

3. The chief electoral officer must issue a certificate similar to Appendix 2 to a person that has been accredited to provide voter education.

Breach of conditions or Code

4. (1) The Commission may from time to time, require an accredited person to submit information concerning the performance of a function by that accredited person.

(2) The Commission may convene a hearing to investigate whether an accredited person has failed to comply with the conditions contemplated in section 86(4) read with section 84(5) of the Act.

(3) If the Commission finds that an accredited person has to a material extent failed to comply with such conditions, the Commission may cancel the accreditation.

Fee for certified copy of or extract from register or copy of certificate of accreditation

5. The fee to be paid in terms of section 84(7) read with section 86(4) of the Act for a certified copy of, or extract from, the register or a copy of a certificate, is One Rand (R1) per page.

Short title

6. These regulations are called the Regulations on the Accreditation of Voter Education Providers, 1998.

APPENDIX 1

Electoral Commission

APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION FOR VOTER EDUCATION

APPENDIX 2

CERTIFICATE OF ACCREDITATION - VOTER EDUCATION

SCHEDULE B

CODE FOR ACCREDITED VOTER EDUCATION PROVIDERS

1. Every accredited voter education provider must -

1.1 inform and make voters aware of their protected right to freedom of conscience and belief, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of association, and peaceful assembly, freedom of movement and of the right to participate freely in peaceful political activities;

1.2 respect the right of voters to elect a party of their choice by using an impartial training method;

1.3 ensure that voters are informed and made aware thereof that political parties and the media are free to impart information and opinion;

1.4 always act in a non-partisan manner and be free of any influence or control by any political party or organisation; and

1.5 strive to promote democratic pluralism and a culture of political tolerance.

2 Every accredited voter education provider must -

2.1 keep such books of account that are reasonably necessary; and

2.2 use funds received only for the purpose for which it was appropriated.

3 No accredited voter education provider may -

3.1 misuse any funds received for the purpose of voter education;

3.2 attempt to ascertain for which candidate or party any voter intends to vote;

3.3 induce, influence, persuade or procure a voter to register for or vote in an election, in the knowledge that such voter is not entitled to register or vote in the election concerned;

3.4 influence or attempt to influence the choice of a voter regarding any party or candidate in an election;

3.5 publish, repeat or disseminate in any manner whatsoever false information; and

3.6 obstruct or interfere with the work of any official or representative of the Commission.

4 Accredited voter education providers must -

4.1 act in a strictly neutral and unbiased manner in every matter concerning a political party, candidate or voter;

4.2 do nothing that could indicate, or be seen as indicating, partisan support for a candidate or political party;

4.3 not accept any gift or favour from a political party or any person involved in the election process; and

4.4 not wear, carry or display any obviously partisan party symbols or colours.