Elections officer probed for allegedly stuffing marked ballots in ballot box

Well, that did not take long!

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa in KwaZulu-Natal confirmed on Monday morning that the police are investigating allegations that one of its presiding officers was on Sunday allegedly caught committing electoral fraud.

THE INCIDENT ALLEGEDLY HAPPENED ON SUNDAY

According to the commission in the province, the unnamed presiding officer was allegedly caught stuffing marked ballots into a ballot box.

“In Ward 93, Kusakusa Primary School, in Mbumbulu area in eThekwini Metro Municipality, a presiding officer was allegedly discovered by party agents, stuffing marked ballot papers into a ballot box.

ALSO READ: Local Elections 2021: Here’s where each leader will be voting

“This remains an allegation, and SAPS are still investigating. Members of the media will be updated as soon as the full report is received from SAPS.”

It was not yet clear which party the officer was trying to help by committing the alleged offence.

IEC spokesperson Thabani Ngwira said on Monday they were still waiting for an update from the police.

Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele said police are investigating the matter.

According to Mbele, the accused officer phoned her Area Manager on Sunday to inform her that there is a problem at the voting station at Kusakusa Primary School. She then confessed that she has voted on both Ward and Locally more than once and she is aware that she has contravened the Local Government Electoral Act 67(b).

ALSO READ: Local Elections 2021: How to report electoral fraud

Do you suspect that electoral fraud has taken place?

• In terms of section 78 of the Municipal Electoral Act, the Electoral Court has jurisdiction in respect of all electoral disputes and complaints about infringements of the Electoral Code of Conduct.
• If you suspect that a party or a candidate has breached the Electoral Code of Conduct, you need to report them to the Electoral Court. The Secretary of the Court can be contacted on telephone number: 051 412-7400.
• Find the Electoral Court’s rules regulating electoral disputes and complaints about infringements of the Electoral Code of Conduct and rules regulating the conduct of the proceedings of the Electoral Court at www.elections.org.za.

IEC-Electoral-Fraud-and-Offences-Factsheet-1Download

Here’s our guide to the new safer Covid-19 voting process. Please:

1. Wear a mask when you vote, as per lockdown regulations for all persons in public places. If you don’t have a mask or face cover, election officials will refuse you entry to the voting station and you will not be able to vote.
2. Keep a social distance of 1.5 m from…well, everyone… fellow voters, election officials, party agents and observers, at all times while queuing and inside your voting station.
3. Wait your turn before entering the voting station as only a limited number of people may be inside the venue at the same time.
4. Know that liquid sanitiser will be sprayed on your hands by an election official before you enter the voting station.
5. We care for the safety of our election officials. They will be provided with masks and gloves to wear, and 70% alcohol sanitiser for hands and surfaces at voting stations and for special voting by home visits, in line with government regulations.
6. You can bring your own pen for marking ballots at the voting station, but be advised that election officials will be sanitising all pens at the voting stations after each use.
7. Note that election officials will mark your thumb with indelible ink liquid from a bottle applied on a cotton bud, which will be disposed of after each use. They will then ask you to wait before leaving the voting station to make sure the ink has dried on your thumbnail, should you decide to sanitise your hands again afterward.
8. Rest assured that all voting station surfaces, including tables and booths, will regularly be wiped with 70% alcohol disinfectant.
9. Say if it’s not okay. Politely speak up if people are too close to you, or if anyone’s behaviour makes you feel uncomfortable. Keep yourself and others safe.