ActionSA is proud to introduce the Election Integrity Bill, a legislative proposal aimed at safeguarding South Africa’s elections from unscrupulous political polling practices and protecting the integrity of our electoral democracy, which relies on citizens’ fair, transparent and informed participation.
Political opinion polling plays a significant role in shaping public perception, guiding media coverage, influencing campaign strategies and ultimately affecting voting behaviour. However, in the absence of clear and formal regulation to prevent the concealment of methodological flaws or undisclosed sponsorships, the publication of such polls often leads to the dissemination of unverifiable or manipulated data.
These practices have increasingly been used by unscrupulous political actors and potential foreign interests as tools for misinformation, manipulation and electoral interference in our young democracy.
Currently, South Africa lacks specific legal provisions governing the conduct, publication, and dissemination of political opinion polling during or before election periods. This places us behind countries such as Brazil, Canada, France and Italy who all have regulations for political polling.
To address this legal vacuum, the Election Integrity Bill seeks to amend the Electoral Commission Act, and the Electoral Act to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for political opinion polling in line with international best practice.
The Bill seeks to:
- Enhance election integrity by requiring all published polls to disclose sponsors, methodologies, and other relevant information.
- Establish the Office of the Polling Ombud as an independent oversight body within the Electoral Commission to regulate political and exit polling
- Prohibit the publication of political opinion polls related to an election within seven days prior to voting day.
ActionSA invites members of the public, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to submit written comments on the draft Bill before 23 November 2025.
Submissions can be sent to the Speaker of the National Assembly: New Assembly Building, Parliament Street, Cape Town, 8001; or posted to P.O. Box 15, Cape Town, 8000; or emailed to speaker@parliament.gov.za and copied to parliament@actionsa.org.za.
A copy of the Bill can be found at https://www.actionsa.org.za/electoral-reform/
ActionSA Introduces the Election Integrity Bill to Protect South Africa’s Democracy
ActionSA is proud to introduce the Election Integrity Bill, a legislative proposal aimed at safeguarding South Africa’s elections from unscrupulous political polling practices and protecting the integrity of our electoral democracy, which relies on citizens’ fair, transparent and informed participation.
Political opinion polling plays a significant role in shaping public perception, guiding media coverage, influencing campaign strategies and ultimately affecting voting behaviour. However, in the absence of clear and formal regulation to prevent the concealment of methodological flaws or undisclosed sponsorships, the publication of such polls often leads to the dissemination of unverifiable or manipulated data.
These practices have increasingly been used by unscrupulous political actors and potential foreign interests as tools for misinformation, manipulation and electoral interference in our young democracy.
Currently, South Africa lacks specific legal provisions governing the conduct, publication, and dissemination of political opinion polling during or before election periods. This places us behind countries such as Brazil, Canada, France and Italy who all have regulations for political polling.
To address this legal vacuum, the Election Integrity Bill seeks to amend the Electoral Commission Act, and the Electoral Act to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for political opinion polling in line with international best practice.
The Bill seeks to:
ActionSA invites members of the public, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to submit written comments on the draft Bill before 23 November 2025.
Submissions can be sent to the Speaker of the National Assembly: New Assembly Building, Parliament Street, Cape Town, 8001; or posted to P.O. Box 15, Cape Town, 8000; or emailed to speaker@parliament.gov.za and copied to parliament@actionsa.org.za.
A copy of the Bill can be found at https://www.actionsa.org.za/electoral-reform/