IEC publishes election timetable on government gazette

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Pretoria - The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has published the election timetable for the upcoming national and provincial elections, in the Government Gazette.

"The cut-off date for registered political parties to submit lists of their candidates for the election is 2 March at 5pm," said the IEC's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Pansy Tlakula.

On 6 March, the IEC will notify political parties who submitted a list of candidates, and those who have not fully complied with the requirements of Section 27 of the Electoral Act will have until 10 March to do so.

On Friday, Ms Tlakula is expected to issue a list containing the addresses of all voting stations that will be available for inspection.

On the same day, Ms Tlakula will also give notice of the route, locations and stopping times of every mobile voting station.

"The IEC will also publish the voters' roll or segments of the voters' roll to be used in the elections," she said.

The inspection of candidates' lists and their documents will be carried out by the IEC on 16 and 17 March respectively from 9am to 5pm.

By 3 April, the IEC will compile a list of the parties entitled to participate in the election and the final list of candidates for each of the parties.

"By 7 April the IEC will issue a certificate to each candidate on every list stating that the person is a candidate for the elections."

Voters, who cannot vote at a voting station due to physical infirmity or disability, or pregnancy, have until 14 April to apply to a municipal electoral officer for a special vote.

Successful applicants will be visited by voting officers on 20 or 21 April.

Certain voters who will be temporarily out of the country on voting day and who have notified the IEC may apply for a special vote at a South African mission on 20 April between 9am and 5pm.

Last Friday, President Kgalema Motlanthe officially proclaimed 22 April as the date for the country's general election.