LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS ACT

to provide for the conduct of Local Government Elections; to establish the Electoral Commission and to specify the functions thereof; and to provide for matters incidental to or connected with the foregoing.

[6th September, 1991]

Act 21 of 1991,

Act 18 of 1992,

Act 26 of 1992,

Act 31 of 1993,

Act 13 of 1994,

Act 14 of 1994,

Act 17 of 1997,

Act 8 of 2004.

PART I
PRELIMINARY

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Local Government Elections Act

2. Interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

“area”, in relation to a council, has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 of the Local Government Act;

“by-election” means an election held in accordance with section 12;

“candidate” means any person nominated as a candidate for election as a Councilor;

“casual vacancy” means a vacancy in the office of Councilor occurring by virtue of section 19 of the Local Government Act;

“Commission” means the ElectoRal CommissIon established under Article 76 of the Constitution;

[Sub by s 2 of Act 17 of 1997.]

“corrupt practice” means any act punishable under section 41;

“costs” include charges and expenses;

“council” means a City Council, Municipal Council, Township Council or District Council established or deemed to be established under the Local Government Act;

“Councilor” means a person elected under this Act to the office of Councillor of a council;

“Director of Elections” means the person for the time being holding or acting in the public office of Director of Elections;

“District Executive Secretary” in relation to a council, has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 of the Local Government Act;

“election” means an election to the office of Councilor of a council;

“election officer” has the meaning assigned to it in section 6;

“election petition” means an election petition referred to in section 18;

“employee”, in relation to a council, has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 of the Local Government Act;

“illegal practice” means any act which is an illegal practice under Part VI;

“interim period” means the period commencing at the commencement of this Act and expiring on such date as the President may, by statutory order, prescribe;

“officer”, in relation to a council, has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 of the Local Government Act;

“ordinary election” means an election held in accordance with section 10;

“petitioner”, in relation to an election petition means any person referred to in section 19 who signs and presents such election petition under section 21, and includes any person substituted for the petitioner under section 25 or 26;

“polling district” means a polling district declared to be such under section 17 of the Electoral Act;

“register of voters” means a register of voters prepared and in force under the Electoral Act;

“registered” means registered in a register of voters and “registration” shall be construed accordingly;

“Registrar” means the Registrar of the High Court;

“respondent” has the meaning assigned to it under section 21;

“returning officer” means a person appointed as such under this Act;

“voter” means a person entitled to vote at an election under section 14;

“ward” means any of the divisions into which a council area is divided under section 9;

(2) For the purpose of this Act, “election expenses” means expenses incurred, whether before, during or after an election, on account of, or in respect of, the conduct or management of such election by or on behalf of a candidate:

Provided that the following expenses shall not be deemed to be election expenses—

(i) any money expended or expenses incurred by any association or group of persons or by any person in the general interests of a political party or organisation or its candidates generally, not being money expended or expenses incurred directly in the particular interest of any particular candidate or expenditure incurred by a political party with the consent of a candidate and apportioned to such candidate under this Act;

(ii) any money expended or expenses incurred by any political party or organisation in the printing, publication or distribution of the official organ of that political party or organisation; or

(iii) any money deposited by or on behalf of a candidate with an election officer under any provision of this Act relating to the nomination of candidates for election.

PART II
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

[Part II heading sub by s 3 of Act 17 of 1997.]

3. Electoral Commission to supervise local government elections

Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the commission shall supervise the conduct of local government elections.

[S 3 sub by s 4 of Act 17 of 1997.]

4. ...

[S 4 rep by s 5 of Act 17 of 1997.]

5. Commission to confer powers on officers of government or councils.

The commission may, by regulation, confer powers or impose duties on any officer or authority of the government or of a council for the purpose of discharging its functions under this Act.

[S 5 sub by s 6 of Act 17 of 1997.]

6. Appointment of election officers

### (1) The Commission may appoint such election officers as it may consider necessary for the purpose of any election and, subject to the other provisions of this section, any election officer may exercise such functions relating to an election as may be prescribed by the Commission.

(2) In respect of any election, an election officer may, if so empowered by the Commission under regulations made under section 8, appoint any fit person to be an election officer and may in any case, subject to the general or special directions of the Commission, appoint any fit person to assist him in the exercise of his functions under this Act;

Provided that an election officer may at any time, in such manner as may be prescribed, revoke an appointment made by him under this sub-section.

(3) Every election officer shall, before exercising any of the functions of his office, take and subscribe such oath or make such affirmation in lieu of the Oath, as the Commission may prescribe.

(4) The Commission may at any time revoke the appointment of an election officer.

(5) Every election officer shall be paid such remuneration and allowances in respect of his duties as the Commission may determine.

(6) In this section, “election officer” means a person appointed under this Act to be—

(a) a returning officer;

(b) a presiding officer;

(d) a counting assistant;

and includes any person appointed by an election officer under sub-section (2); and where functions are conferred on the Director of Elections under this Act in respect of an election, includes the Director of Elections.

7. Conduct and expenses of Local Government Elections

(1) The conduct of every election shall be subject to the direction and supervision of the Commission.

(2) The costs of, and incidental to, the conduct of any election in any ward of a council shall be paid out of money appropriated by Parliament for the purpose:

Provided that, notwithstanding any such appropriation, such council shall pay into the general revenues of the Republic the amount of such costs, or such lesser amount as the Minister may prescribe, by statutory order, in respect of such council.

(3) Where any question arises as to the amount of the costs referred to in sub-section (2), a certificate under the hand of the Minister stating the amount of the costs shall be conclusive and shall not be questioned in any proceedings whatsoever.

8. Powers of Commission

(1) Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the Commission may, by statutory instrument, make regulations providing for the procedure and manner of conducting every election, and may, at any time, issue instructions to any election officer in connection with his functions under this Act and may require any election officer to furnish to the Commission such information and returns as it may consider necessary.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-section (1), the Commission may, be statutory instrument, make regulations providing for all or any of the following matters—

(i) the division of the area of councils into wards;

(ii) the establishment of polling stations in a ward;

(iii) the nomination of candidates for any election; and the withdrawal of nominations duly made;

(iv) the making and determination of appeals against the rejection of nominations by a returning officer;

(v) the publication of names of candidates whose nominations are accepted;

(vi) the payment of election fees by candidates;

(vii) the use, and the allocation of, symbols at an election;

(viii) the appointment, and the duties of, election agents and polling agents;

(ix) the fixing of dates and times for the taking of polls;

(x) the equipment and facilities to be provided at polling stations;

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