SA judgment may force reprint of election ballots

The Constitutional Court ruled in favor of the African National Congress in a dispute over candidates excluded from next month’s municipal elections, a judgment that may force the electoral commission to reprint ballot papers weeks before voting begins.

The ruling raises questions about whether the Independent Electoral Commission can meet its deadlines before the 4 November  vote. The commission said Wednesday that 66% of ballot papers had already been printed, including a significant proportion of those affected by the ANC’s challenge.

The ANC approached the Constitutional Court to appeal an Electoral Court ruling that upheld the IEC’s decision to exclude more than 180 of its candidates, including some in the Eastern Cape province, after they failed to meet a submission deadline. The party argued that a technical glitch prevented it from registering the candidates on time.

Masego Sheburi, an IEC official, warned Wednesday that a ruling in the ANC’s favor