What is the Electoral Code of Conduct?

The Code is a set of rules.

The parties and candidates must:

• speak out against political violence and threats against other parties, the IEC, members of the public and the media;

• let the authorities know about planned marches or rallies;

• communicate with other political parties about planned political events;

• recognise the authority of the IEC;

• work with the IEC structures and allow them to perform their duties;

• work with the police in their investigation of election crime and violence; and

• accept the results of the election or challenge the result in court.

How does the Code of Conduct work?

The Electoral Code of Conduct must be agreed to by:

• every registered party before the party takes part in an election; and

• every candidate before he/she is placed on the list of candidates.

Parties and candidates must stick to the code and must:

• let the public know about the Code;

• promote the purpose of the Code; and

• support efforts to educate voters.

Parties and candidates must also inform the public that all people (including women, persons with disabilities, and different language and cultural groups) have the right:

• to be free to express their political beliefs and to be part of any political party; and

• to join in any political campaigns, marches or public meetings.

What happens when you break the Code of Conduct?

Any person who breaks the Code is guilty of a crime and can be fined or sent to prison for up to 10 years.

Political parties that break the Code can:

• be fined;

• be stopped from working in an area; or

• have their votes in an area cancelled.

Information taken from the IEC website at www.elections.org.za