House Chairperson, experience is the best teacher. The principal Act of 2007 obviously had certain shortcomings which became evident over time. This Bill addresses those shortcomings and the Minister has enunciated some of them.
A good example is the drawing up of a pro forma timetable for the local government elections and giving attention to the fact that all candidates on the list are indeed eligible to stand for elections. The amended law will authorise the removal, from the party list, the names of candidates who did not submit the required documentation within the prescribed period of time.
The Bill also makes provision for the central payments of deposits by a party, using a bank-guaranteed cheque when it is contesting an election in more than one municipality on the same day. All of the matters I have mentioned so far have been of a technical nature. Clearly, they are an advancement on what we have had before.
The amendment of section 21 of Act 27 of 2000 will now empower presiding officers to alter boundaries of voting stations, if necessary, and after consultation with party agents and the members of the security services who are on duty.
The next two amendments are outwardly very good. However, they both have the potential for being corrupted. There is nothing wrong with a presiding officer or a voting officer assisting a voter when requested by a voter in terms of section 1, or when a voter is unable to read. However, this must be done to the satisfaction of all the agents to ensure fairness and impartiality.
The provision which is made for special votes to allow a voter, who is unable to cast his or her vote at the voting station on voting day, to apply to cast a special vote within that voting district is also acceptable. This provision has to be monitored because it could have the potential for corruption. This request is often made to avoid standing in queues.
Cope has no fundamental problem in enhancing the powers and functions of the Electoral Commission to apply to the Electoral Court for extension in declaring the results of an election where it cannot do so within the seven- day period required by section 5 of the Electoral Commission Act of 1996. The reasons the commission advances must be solid and have the support of political parties.
On the second day after voting, through a written notice, objections can be lodged by a person who has an interest in the elections. Such a person must provide detailed reasons for the objection and point to the aspect of the election which was deficient.
The reasons for the amendments are acceptable to us in Cope. We only trust that no unintended consequences will arise to undermine the good reasons. The commission should undertake adequate training so that everyone understands the full implications of the amendments that are in front of us - including community education and the members - of the voting. Therefore, Cope will support the Bill as amended by the portfolio committee, hoping that the Constitution will play an important role in whatever we do. I thank you. [Applause.]