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Electoral bill

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THE National Council of Provinces has passed the Electoral Amendment Bill, which will allow independent candidates to stand for election in the National Assembly and provincial legislatures.

The bill was, however, passed with amendments, including one providing for the establishment of an electoral reform consultation panel that must look into the country’s electoral system after the 2024 elections.

The bill is a sequel to a Constitutional Court judgment delivered in June 2020, which found that the Electoral Act was unconstitutional because it required candidates who wanted to stand for elections to be members of political parties.

The amended bill provides for requirements that must be met by persons who wish to be nominated as independent candidates and provides for objections to independent candidates, among other things.

The bill also provides for the appointment of agents by independent candidates and the return of a deposit to independent candidates in certain circumstances.

The bill will be referred to the National Assembly at its special sitting on Tuesday.

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OPINION

en-za

2022-12-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-12-03T08:00:00.0000000Z

http://capeargus.pressreader.com/article/282218014814437

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