The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) held a random draw in Midrand on Wednesday to determine that the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) will appear at the top of the ballot for the November 4 local government elections. According to the IEC, the draw was organized during an electoral pledge signing ceremony to eliminate any perceived advantage traditionally given to political parties whose names begin with the first letter of the alphabet.
Ballot Position and Reshuffle Mechanics
IEC officials explained that after the top spot was drawn, alphabetical order would resume as normal for the remaining entries. Because its registered Afrikaans name, Vryheidsfront Plus, precedes its English translation on official IEC documents, the FF+ moved from its typical position near the bottom of the ballot directly to the first slot. In a sample ballot for Johannesburg shown during the event, the FF+ is followed by Vuka SA and ActionSA. In municipalities such as Bela-Bela, where no registered parties begin with the letter Z, the FF+ will be followed by the AC/DP and other parties starting with the letter A.
The draw was conducted after IEC officials called for a random volunteer from the hall. eNCA journalist Naledi Moleo stepped forward to draw a ball from the bowl. IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya announced the result to attendees, stating that Naledi Moleo had selected the Vryheidsfront Plus to lead the ballot layout alongside instructions provided by deputy chief electoral officer Masego Shiburi.
Did You Know? The IEC chairperson publicly revealed the ballot outcome after eNCA’s Naledi Moleo drew the ball from a bowl during the electoral pledge signing ceremony in Midrand on Wednesday.
Double-Column Ballot Specifications for Contested Municipalities
Due to a high volume of contesting organizations for the November 4 election, any ward ballot or proportional representation (PR) ballot featuring more than 48 candidates will utilize a double-column layout. According to IEC deputy chief electoral officer Masego Shiburi, this format applies directly to five of the largest and most heavily contested metropolitan municipalities across the country.
Johannesburg’s PR ballot leads the group with 75 participating parties, followed by Tshwane with 70, eThekwini with 69, Ekurhuleni with 67, and Cape Town with 55. On PR ballots, parties appear from left to right displaying their party name, party abbreviation, and official logo. On ward ballots, the candidate’s name as it appears on their ID card is positioned on the left, followed by the party name and logo. In both ballot formats, the party logo is placed closest to the voting box where citizens mark their X.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the IEC hold a random draw for the top ballot position?
The IEC held the draw to eliminate any perceived advantage typically gained by political organizations whose names begin with the letter A.
Which party secured the top spot on the ballot?
The Freedom Front Plus secured the first position on the ballot after its Afrikaans registration name, Vryheidsfront Plus, was drawn.
Which municipalities will use double-column ballots?
Double-column ballots will be used in Johannesburg, Tshwane, eThekwini, Ekurhuleni, and Cape Town due to high candidate volumes exceeding 48 entries.
How will voters identify parties and candidates on the ballot papers?
On proportional representation ballots, parties are listed from left to right by name, abbreviation, and logo, while ward ballots feature the candidate’s ID name on the left followed by the party and logo, placing the voting box closest to the logo.
How do you think these ballot design changes will impact voter navigation in densely populated metros?
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