ActionSA to brief media on the IEC’s reluctance to add omitted names from ballot paper

ActionSA will hold a media briefing on Wednesday after the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said it was unlikely to add the abbreviated names of the 15 parties whose names were omitted from the Local Government Elections ballot paper.

These parties include Herman Mashaba’s ActionSA and the Change Party.

 

Dear @IECSouthAfrica – Your refusal to put @Action4SA‘s name on the ballot paper is NOT free & fair.

I am taking a stand against this, and I am calling on all South Africans, regardless of political affiliation to do the same.

Support our legal action:https://t.co/Q0bdqQ6DgS

— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) October 5, 2021

The IEC says the two parties will only have their logo and name of the ward candidate featured on the November 1 ballot paper because they did not provide an abbreviated name or acronym during registration with the institution.

The parties are aggrieved as an abbreviated name is recognised as an important way in which voters identify the political party they wish to vote for.

On Tuesday, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Mawethu Mosery says parties whose names are not on the Local Government Election ballot paper are required to return to the Commission and amend their registration papers by adding their abbreviated name.

On Monday, ActionSA said it will go to court since its name does not appear on the ballot paper for the November 1 elections.

 

The ANC missed the deadline for candidate submission – the entire deadline was shifted by the IEC.

‘ActionSA’ – The name of our party is excluded by the IEC from draft ballot papers – the IEC refuses to amend them.

Free and fair?

— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) October 4, 2021

The party said the IEC missed its deadline of 10h00 on Monday, October 4, to remedy this matter.

It says it has received legal advice that the IEC has breached its overreaching responsibilities to ensure free and fair elections due to the absence of the party’s name on the ballot paper.

IEC ‘unlikely’ to add details of 15 parties not on the ballot papers:

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