We are a permanent body created by the Constitution to manage free and fair elections at all levels of government. Although publicly funded and accountable to parliament, we are independent of the government.

Obligations

In terms of Section 190 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (PDF – 1.65 MB), we must –

• manage elections of national, provincial and municipal legislative bodies;
• ensure that those elections are free and fair;
• declare the results of those elections; and
• compile and maintain a voters’ roll.

Duties

Section 5 of the Electoral Commission Act, 1996 (PDF – 183 KB) requires that we:

• compile and maintain a register of parties;
• undertake and promote research into electoral matters;
• develop and promote the development of electoral expertise and technology in all spheres of government;
• continuously review electoral laws and proposed electoral laws, and make recommendations;
• promote voter education;
• declare the results of elections for national, provincial and municipal legislative bodies within seven days; and
• appoint appropriate public administrations in any sphere of government to conduct elections when necessary.

  About Independent Electoral Commission

   

  The Electoral Commission is established under Chapter Nine of the Constitution as one of the State institutions supporting constitutional democracy. The structure of the Commission is addressed in the Electoral Commission Act 51 of 1996. The Commission consists of five members (one of whom shall be a judge) appointed by the State President. The Commissioners are appointed from a list of not less than eight names submitted by a panel of experts.

  This panel consists of the President of the Constitutional Court, and representatives from each of the following institutions; the Human Rights Commission; the Public Protector and the Commission on Gender Equality. The nominees by this panel of experts must be approved by a committee of the National Assembly, proportionally composed of all political parties represented in the Assembly and must further be approved by a resolution of the majority of the members of the Assembly.

  Commissioners are appointed for a seven-year term. They can only be removed from office by the President on grounds of misconduct upon a finding to that effect by a committee of the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the Electoral Court. The removal must also be endorsed by a majority of the members of the Assembly.
  The independence of the Commission is expressly guaranteed in both the Constitution and the Electoral Act. It is subject only to the Constitution and the law and no person or organ of state may interfere with the exercise of its functions. The Commission is accountable to the National Assembly and reports on its activities and the performance of its functions to the Assembly at least once a year. The decisions of the Commission on electoral matters are subject to review by the Electoral Court.