REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA COMBINED SECOND PERIODIC REPORT UNDER THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLE`S RIGHTS and INITIAL REPORT UNDER THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA The role of the Electoral Commission 219. The Electoral Commission of South Africa is a permanent body established by the Constitution to promote and safeguard democracy in South Africa. It is a publicly funded body and while it is accountable to Parliament, it is independent of government. The IEC is charged to deliver regular, free and fair elections at all levels of government – national, provincial and local. 220. The IEC has to compile and maintain the voters' roll and it is responsible for counting, verifying and declaring the results of an election. The IEC is also responsible for compiling and maintaining a register of parties, undertaking and promoting research into electoral matters, developing and promoting the development of electoral expertise and technology in all spheres of government, continuously reviewing electoral laws and proposed electoral laws, and making recommendations and promoting voter education. The Electoral Court is established by the Electoral Commission Act, 1996143 to review decisions of IEC and to act as final court of appeal in the adjudication of disputes by the courts; it has the same status as that of the High Court. The members are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission. Increase in number of registered voters 221. South Africa has sought to ensure that citizens’ participation in the electoral process is enhanced. This is done by way of various registration drives undertaken by the IEC. In the 2004 national elections, there were 20,6 million registered voters. This number increased to 21,05 million in the 2006 municipal elections. A total of 23,5 million people were eligible to vote in the 2009 national elections and 23,6 million in the 2011 municipal elections. Increase in voting stations 222. 143 144 In addition to improving voter access to voting stations, the increase in voting districts and stations has meant that voters spend less time waiting in queues to vote at voting stations. The average number of registered voters per voting station in the 2004 elections was 1219 and this declined to 1175 registered voters per voting station in the 2009 elections. Research commissioned by the Electoral Commission and conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council in 2009 revealed that 86% of voters were able to get to their voting stations in 30 minutes or less during the 2009 elections. Furthermore, 80% of voters waited in a queue at their voting station for 60 minutes or less while waiting to vote. Moreover, 90% of rural voters queued for 60 minutes or less compared to only 67% of urban voters.144 Act No. 51 of 1996 Electoral Commission of South Africa, 2009 Elections Report 65