LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS: INPUT SOUGHT ON COUNTERING DISINFORMATION CODE OF CONDUCT

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS: INPUT SOUGHT ON COUNTERING DISINFORMATION CODE OF CONDUCT

• 30 June 2026
• Electoral Law
• SA Legal Academy

Please note: 1) On 23 July 2026, the Independent Electoral Commission issued a media statement extending the deadline for input on the proposed new code of conduct to 29 July 2026. 2) The new deadline was gazetted on 24 July 2026.

The Independent Electoral Commission has gazetted a draft code of conduct intended to counter disinformation during the upcoming local government elections. The deadline for input is 22 July 2026. Once finalised, the proposed new code will be published as an additional electoral code aimed at promoting free, fair and orderly local government elections.

This is according to the accompanying notice, which – among other things – refers to provisions in the draft code expected to:

• guide ‘those with political influence’ on the ‘reasonable standard of conduct’ to be adopted ‘in guarding against and responding to disinformation that seeks to undermine electoral integrity and democratic processes’
• assist in ‘identifying measures to counter the risk of harm that disinformation poses to electoral integrity’; and
• suggest ‘effective measures, both proactive and responsive, to address the exigencies of disinformation in the digital environment, including the role of social media platforms and artificial intelligence’.

Please click the link below for more information:

• draft code
• prevailing general electoral code of conduct

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