• Source: Electoral Amendment Act, 2023

      • The Electoral Amendment Act, 2023 (Act 1 of 2023) is legislation aimed at reforming the electoral laws and regulations in South Africa. Its primary purpose is to address specific issues and challenges in the country's electoral process, ensuring that it is more inclusive, representative, and democratic.


      History




      = Origin

      =
      The South African Electoral Amendment Bill was first introduced in 2020, following concerns about the country's electoral system, particularly regarding the representation of smaller political parties as well as independent candidates. The bill was drafted in response to a 2019 Constitutional Court judgment, which declared certain aspects of the Electoral Act unconstitutional. The bill aims to address these issues and align the electoral laws with the country's Constitution.
      On April 17, 2023, the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, signed the bill into law. The law aims at expanding electoral participation and also widens the power of leadership choices for the national and provincial elections. This bill was passed in response to a Constitutional Court judgment that declared that the 1998 Electoral Act that was not constitutional for the stipulation that the election to the provincial legislatures and National Assembly can only be attained through the membership of the political parties.


      = Objectives

      =
      The South African Electoral Amendment Bill seeks to allow independent candidates to contest the national and provincial elections, introduce a more proportional representation system, enhance the independence and impartiality of the Electoral Commission, and improve the transparency and accountability of political party funding. It also seeks at strengthen electoral integrity and prevent fraud.


      = Electoral Reform Consultation Panel

      =
      Due to a lack of public participation in the course of preparing the legislation ahead of the 2024 South African general election a review clause was included in the legislation providing for the establishment of the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel to allow for a more comprehensive review of South Africa's electoral system.


      Formation



      The bill was formed through a collaborative process involving the South African Parliament, political parties, civil society organizations, and citizens. The process included public hearings and consultations to gather input and feedback, expert analysis and research on electoral systems and best practices, drafting and refinement of the bill's provisions and language, as well as debate and voting in Parliament to approve or reject the bill.
      The South African Electoral Amendment Bill was formed to address concerns about the underrepresentation of smaller political parties including independent candidates of the national and provincial legislatures, the need for a more proportional representation system to reflect the diversity of South African society, and the importance of ensuring the independence and impartiality of the Electoral Commission. Other concerns include the need for greater transparency and accountability in political party funding, the requirement to strengthen electoral integrity and prevent fraud, ensuring the trust and confidence of citizens in the electoral process.


      See also


      Parliament of South Africa
      National Assembly (South Africa)
      Constitutional Court of South Africa


      External links


      Text of the act


      References

    • Source: Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023

      • The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023 is a law of Ireland to revise Dáil constituencies and European Parliament constituencies. The revised Dáil constituencies will come into effect on the dissolution of the 33rd Dáil. The dissolution must take place by 19 February 2025; however, the Taoiseach, Simon Harris has indicated an intention to seek a dissolution of the Dáil on 8 November. The 2024 general election for the 34th Dáil will follow thereafter. The revised European Parliament constituencies were used at the 2024 European Parliament election.


      Constituency review reports


      The Electoral Commission was established on 9 February 2023. Under the Electoral Reform Act 2022, it was required to consider a revision of constituencies in light of the 2022 census. On 30 August 2023, the commission delivered a report in which it proposed several changes to Dáil constituencies, increasing the number of seats in the Dáil from 160 to 174, while increasing the number of constituencies from 39 to 43.
      In June 2023, the European Parliament adopted a resolution to add an additional 11 MEPs. Ireland would gain one MEP under this arrangement, increasing from 13 to 14. This was adopted by the European Council in September 2023. The Electoral Commission recommended the additional seat be given to the constituency of Midlands–North-West, with the transfer of County Laois and County Offaly from South.
      The Act implemented the recommendations of both these reports and repealed the Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017, which had defined the constituencies in use since the 2020 general election.


      Revised Dáil constituencies




      European Parliament constituencies




      References

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