#IMadeMyMark: Record number of political parties to contest elections

WITH a record number of 48 political parties contesting next week’s national elections on 8 May, the IEC’s manager of Electoral Operations in KZN revealed that more than 50 million ballot papers will be printed, using 40 tons of paper.

The ballot production process is expected to take about 14 days. This year’s election sees 19 more political parties registered than in 2014, despite a trend noted in the 2014 election in which smaller parties massively declined in support with many new parties launched at the time, failing to make it into Parliament.

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Ntomb’futhi Masinga said: “The ballot papers will be longer for national and provincial elections. There has also been a significant increase in cost of printing, transport and storage. The record number will also mean longer count and processing of results. Due to space within voting stations, party agents may have to take turns to observe all processes. Additional space will be needed in Results Operations Centres and also ensure all parties feel included and part of the process.”

A record number of political parties will contest provincial legislatures in all provinces, with the largest number in Gauteng at 36, and the smallest number in the Northern Cape with 21. There are more than 26 million registered voters this year, with 55% being women and 45% men. That represents 74.6% of the total voting age population.

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