One SA Movement’s petition to stop parliament “throwing votes away” in the next national elections has garnered more than 1,800 signatures.
OSA said the bill means citizens could be discriminated against for their political choices.
“Hundreds of thousands of votes could be discarded in the next national election and elections to come. This offends the constitutional principles of fairness and equality and creates an unequal society where only some people’s votes count,” it said.“We deserve an electoral system which guarantees every vote counts whether you vote for a political party or for an independent candidate. Never again should South Africans be stopped from exercising their democratic right to vote.
The movement said the petition is to mobilise millions of South Africans to participate in the public participation process and to tell parliament they want an electoral system that guarantees every vote will count.Maimane said the proposed bill is unconstitutional, discards votes, is inherently unfair and is not in the spirit of a Constitutional Court judgment. on the logistics of this stage.
“We do not want another commission to determine whether the 2024 national election will be free and fair because parliament dragged its feet and threatens the legitimacy of the national election.”“Parliament must work to honour the highest court in the land. Parliament must work to make sure these reforms are ready by 2024.”