# Electoral-reform

- Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/electoral-reform/
- Published: 2020-08-31T11:20:31+02:00
- Author: dearSA

[ Browse the DearSA website](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/pdps/)

### the Electoral Laws Amendment Bill, 2020 (“the draft Bill”) will seek to address the New Nation Movement judgment by amending relevant electoral legislation in order to make provision for independent candidates to stand for public office in provincial and national elections, without requiring such candidate to be a member of a particular political party.

Please voice your thoughts, suggestions and solutions – which will be presented 
to government and our courts by several civil society organisations.

### **5574**** **participants (closed 30 September)

[view DearSA's submission to parliament ](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/electoral-reform/summary)

[view a report on the written public participation ](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/20190908/Electoral-Act-report-.pdf)

[click to download a PDF of the public comments (1.6mb) ](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/20190912/electoral-reform-REDACT-s.pdf)

![DearSA-electoral-reform](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/
2020/08/20190940/electoral-reform.jpg "electoral-reform")

![Dear South Africa](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/
02102235/DearSA-logo-s-100x31.jpg "DearSA-logo-s")

## Have your say – shape this policy.

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### SUMMARY

### The draft Bill will, therefore, inter alia, seek to amend:

 * the Electoral Commission Act, 1996 (Act No. 51 of 1996), so as to provide for,
   and to regulate, the registration of independent candidates;
 * the Electoral Act, 1998 (Act No. 73 of 1998), so as to, inter alia, give full
   effect to section 19(3)(b) of the Constitution, which provides that every South
   African citizen has the fundamental right to stand for public office and, if 
   elected, to hold office; to;
    - ensure that individuals can stand for office as independent candidates without
      having to stand for office by virtue of his or her membership of a political
      party;
    - to provide for the creation of constituencies along current district boundary
      lines, and;
    - the replacement of the “closed list” proportional representation system with
      the “open list” proportional representation system with greater requirements
      for all candidates to uphold the Constitution and to give impetus to the realisation
      of the Bill of Rights; and to promote democratic governance and electoral 
      accountability; and
 * any other relevant legislation so as to provide for independent candidates to
   participate in election broadcasts and political advertisements on an equitable
   basis with political parties;
    - to provide for independent candidates to receive financial and administrative
      assistance to enable them to perform their functions effectively; and
    - to provide for related and other consequential matters.

### DOWNLOAD DOCUMENTS

 * [Notice of intention to introduce the Bill](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/20190941/200828draftelectorallawsamendmentbill.pdf)
 * [Policy paper on Electoral Reform](https://cdn.dearsouthafrica.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/20190941/Policy-on-electoral-Reform.pdf)
 * [Constitution of SA – in all official languages](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/constitution-of-south-africa/)

### IN THE MEDIA

 * ChaiFM – [New Blue Review with Benji Shulman (Rob Hutchinson as guest)](https://www.chaifm.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2020.08.31-Rob-Hutchinson-MD-of-Dear-South-Africa-a-nonprofit-which-facilitates-public-participation-in-government-decision-making-process.mp3)
 * News24 – [Maimane and Lekota eye election reform in new draft Bill](https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/maimane-and-lekota-eye-election-reform-in-new-draft-bill-20200819)

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