Pretoria - Cabinet has approved the publication of the Electoral Amendment Bill, 2013, for public comment.
The Amendment Bill provides for special votes in elections for the National Assembly, and the registration of voters who may apply to cast special votes while they are abroad during the election.
This will improve the electoral process and enhance the reliability of the elections for the National Assembly and provincial legislatures.
Cabinet says the Minister of Home Affairs will hold a media briefing on this to help people understand the implications of the amendments.
The main objectives of the amendment are to modify the Electoral Act, 1998 (Act No. 73 of 1998) in order to amend and insert certain definitions and to revise provisions relating to registration as a voter; revise provisions relating to special votes and to revise provisions relating to the number of party agents at a voting station.
The Act allows for the Independent Electoral Commission to allow a person to apply for and cast a special vote prior to election day, if that person cannot vote in the voting district in which they are registered.
This could be due to the person’s physical infirmity, disability or pregnancy; serving as an officer in the election; being on duty as a member of the security services in connection with the elections or being absent from the republic. – SAnews.gov.za
