Latest news with #ElectoralAct
Sky News AU
7 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Nine political correspondent Paul Karp spoken to by Australian Election Commission after being signed in as Greens scrutineer
A senior Nine political journalist was signed in by the Greens as one of the party's scrutineers to gain entry to a counting centre in the tightest seat in the federal election, Sky News can reveal The Australian Financial Review's NSW political correspondent Paul Karp was signed in by a NSW Greens member to the Asquith centre, on Sydney's north - where the Bradfield vote is being counted – last week in a plan that is understood to have been pre-approved by Nine management. The controversy comes as a full recount began this week in the fiercest contest this election, as Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian pulled ahead of Climate-200 backed independent Nicolette Boele by just eight votes at the end of the final distribution of preferences. A photograph obtained by Sky News shows Mr Karp was signed in to the centre by the far-left party on May 22 at 9.15am. Two witnesses reported that they did not see Mr Karp scrutineering, but instead he appeared to be listening in to conversations. An Australian Election Commission (AEC) spokesman confirmed Mr Karp was 'appointed by a candidate in the contest to be a scrutineer and did attend a counting centre.' 'While there is nothing in the Electoral Act that limits who can be a scrutineer (if they are appropriately appointed by a candidate) we did have a discussion with Paul about his presence,' the spokesman said. 'The AEC provides good access to media representatives to understand the counting process and even view the counting process in action. 'Counting centres are of course there for the purpose of conducting the count. It is our understanding that Mr Karp has not returned as a scrutineer since that day.' Mr Karp declined to comment. It is understood a NSW Greens member appointed Mr Karp as a Greens scrutineer for media purposes and the plan had been pre-approved by Mr Karp's managers at Nine. A Nine spokesman said Mr Karp had identified himself as a member of the media upon arriving at the centre. 'The reporter was wearing his media ID at all times,' the spokesman said. 'The reporter left the counting centre of his own accord and there are no plans to report on the counting process. "The AFR understands its responsibilities in regard to AEC processes and has reinforced these with the reporter.' Mr Karp left his role as The Guardian's chief political correspondent for the position at the Financial Review in January amid another controversy His farewell speech was leaked to news site Crikey, which reported Mr Karp quoting a former colleague who said, 'this is a great place to work because we don't write crap, and we don't work for psychos.' 'I'm leaving with my head held high and with a clean record, despite being an extremely squeaky wheel about psychosocial risks in the first place,' Mr Karp is reported to have said. Mr Karp is not the only curious sighting in the Asquith counting centre. The Reserve Bank Australia's manager of monetary policy implementation Lara Pendle was spotted scrutineering for Ms Boele. Her name is pictured on the same sign-in sheet as Mr Karp's, signed in under 'Boele' last Thursday. Both Ms Pendle's personal Instagram and Facebook accounts feature a photograph of her standing next to Ms Boele with the words 'I'm voting for independent Nicolette Boele'. It is understood Ms Pendle has been on leave from the central bank for more than a year and that it is not against RBA policy for managers to volunteer for political parties. Sky News has contacted Ms Pendle for comment.
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
The IEC's journey towards e-voting in South Africa
Last Thursday, the Electoral Commission of South Africa in KwaZulu-Natal hosted a stakeholder session with academia on e-voting. Image: Electoral Commission of South Africa/ Facebook The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has decided to try e-voting again, and it is now in the policy-making stage. IEC senior manager in the office of the CEO, Dr Victor Shale, said the commission not only seeks to deliver on the procedural aspect of elections, but it also seeks to deliver on the substantive value of elections. Therefore, the commission tries to be at the forefront of innovation. 'We want to make sure that elections add value to democracy,' Shale said. Where is the IEC now regarding e-voting? Shale said that having undertaken significant work since 2013, the IEC is now in the policy-making phase. He said that policy begins when identifying an issue. 'Whether we like it or not, digital technology in elections is inevitable. We are using digital technology in elections, in one way or the other,' Shale said. He said they have done research and continue to do research. They also read and familiarise themselves with comparative studies throughout the globe. They now know what is there. Shale explained that because they are a public institution, a policy development process ought to be comprehensive and thoroughly consolidated. He said that from last Thursday's stakeholder session with the academia on e-voting, they will be able to identify policy options, followed by the policy adoption, where they will need to clearly define the structure, systems and regulations pertaining to e-voting. 'So we are in a process, making very steady progress towards a desired goal,' Shale said. He added that in policy-making, you have to consistently evaluate the performance of adopted policy systems and structures. Shale said these are some of the considerations they have: Legislative review Public education Infrastructure development Training Piloting Shale clarified that they have been working on e-voting since 2013, however, it is not something you can put together and do. 'You take time, you test systems, you make sure that everything is working,' Shale said. What next? Shale said the commission continues public consultations and public dialogues, which have been happening since March. This phase is expected to end by September. He said that following consultations, the resulting outputs will be reviewed. Shale said that the commission anticipates that by March 2026, it will be in a position to draft a green paper. This will be followed by formal legislative processes until it becomes a policy, maybe then causing electoral reform in terms of amending the Electoral Act.
Eyewitness News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
KZN IEC official accused of stealing voting material acquitted
DURBAN - The IEC official accused of stealing voting material in KwaZulu-Natal has been acquitted on all charges by the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court. Musawenkosi Mnikathi was an area manager in Imbali during the 2024 general polls. He faced charges linked to transporting voting ballots without police supervision. The Umkhonto Wesizwe Party laid charges against him, accusing him of rigging the votes. READ: Court to decide whether to criminally charge IEC official found in possession of ballot boxes Although the court earlier this year said he had a case to answer, IEC official Musawenkosi Mnikathi is now a free man. The court has found him not guilty of contravening some provisions of the Electoral Act. IEC Chief Officer, Sy Mamabolo, welcomed the ruling. "We think that they should have listened to the event organiser, which is the electoral commission, who have appointed these officers and given them the responsibility to move material,s because the absence to move materials - the electoral process would collapse at certain voting stations." He adds that it was part of Mnikathi's role to supply voting material. "It's sad that we've had to put an individual through such a solid experience; it should have never been the case."
IOL News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
MK Party accuses ANC of abusing state resources ahead of Mpofana by-election
Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) secretary-general Floyd Shivambu demands IEC intervention, slamming ANC and MEC Simelane for turning government programmes into campaign tools just days before the Mpofana by-election. Image: Facebook The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has accused the African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal of abusing government resources for party-political campaigning ahead of next week's crucial by-election in Ward 4, Mpofana Local Municipality. The MK Party claims that state programmes are being manipulated to give the ANC an unfair electoral advantage and has lodged an official complaint with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). IOL previously reported that the MK Party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, is rapidly gaining traction in eThekwini following several recent by-election wins. In a formal letter signed by MKP secretary general Floyd Shivambu, the party condemned a public event organised by KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health Nomagugu Simelane, scheduled for Friday, just five days before the by-election. 'The uMkhonto we Sizwe party had noted with dismay and shock, a poster purported to be issued by the MEC, inviting community members to a government event, a mere five days before the actual by-election,' the letter reads. It argues that the event 'may directly influence the electoral choices given the immediacy and active campaigning by other political parties competing with the political party of MEC Simelane in the same community. It is effectively a political campaign using state resources.' The MK party sees this as part of a broader pattern. 'We are raising the Department of Health programme in Ward 4 Mpofana, because prior to the By-Elections in Ward 18 Mandeni, the Department of Health also held another programme in Mandeni Ward 18 on the 26th of April 2025, which was 4 days before the Election Day,' the letter states. MK argues these events are timed to sway voters in favour of the ANC, adding that 'it is not a coincidence, it is abuse of State resources to campaign for the African National Congress.' The letter further cites violations of the Electoral Act and calls for the event to be halted and rescheduled. On X (formerly Twitter), Shivambu echoed the party's outrage, stating, 'The ANC in KwaZulu Natal is abusing government resources by misusing government budget for party political campaigns in By-Elections. ''In Mandeni Ward 18, they channelled a government event to the Ward, 4 days before elections. We, as uMkhonto weSizwe, defeated them despite misuse of government resources.' He warned that similar tactics in Mpofana will fail: 'They are now doing the same thing in Mpofana Ward will defeat them again in Mpofana Ward 4.'
Sky News AU
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Federal Election: Recount underway at Menzies polling booth after Liberal MP Keith Wolahan's vote drops by 1851 votes overnight
A recount is being conducted in a key seat in the Federal Election after the number of votes for a rising star in the Liberal Party fell by more than 1800 overnight on Saturday. The discrepancy occurred in the seat of Menzies, where Liberal MP Keith Wolahan currently trails Labor's Gabriel Ng by 1,384 votes. Sources have told Sky News that an AEC document from election night shows Mr Wolahan received 8,817 votes at a booth in Doncaster East, but a second count carried out on Sunday showed this had fallen to just 6,996 – a loss of 1851 votes. The initial vote count was carried out with the presence of Liberal Party volunteers and certified at 10.30pm on Saturday. The second count was done at 1.30am on Sunday, with sources saying this occurred after scrutineers had gone home. The Liberal Party is not alleging any conspiracy or wrongdoing, but is currently supervising a recount of votes from the booth, and questions are being asked about how the discrepancy occurred. The AEC has described the discrepancy as a 'transcription" error that was "quickly rectified". "In the count for Menzies, an error in the transcription of the original count was detected and quickly rectified during scrutiny on Sunday. Scrutineers were present for this process," an AEC spokesperson said. "It's not unusual for the AEC to make corrections as we continue with the counting process." The AEC spokesperson also said the recount being conducted is part of the normal process. "Election night counts are conducted by our temporary election workforce at the end of the polling day. The 'fresh scrutiny' currently being conducted is a re-check of all ordinary ballot papers received from every polling place, pre-poll voting centre and mobile polling team in a division, and is required by the Electoral Act to further ensure the accuracy of the counting process," they said. Former Nationals leader Michael McCormack said the first ever recount in his own seat of Riverina had occurred way back in 1903, leading to a legal battle which went all the way to the High Court. 'They had a by-election and John Chanter resumed the role, given the fact that there was (a discrepancy of) about five votes at that time, let alone 1851,' Mr McCormack. The Nationals MP also raised concerns about the high number of informal votes, which he described as a 'real concern'. 'I think we need uniformity, quite frankly, across local, state and federal elections,' he said. 'You can't turn up to a state election, put a number one (on) your ballot, and that's valid … and then turn up to a federal election just a few months later and have to number every box. It is confusing for people. 'People waste their vote, and that is such a tragedy, given the fact that there are 103,000 names on the rolls of honour at the War Memorial, men and women who died for this country so that we can have a fair and free democratic vote. 'I mean, in the Riverina, 11 per cent; the informal would have run third had it been a candidate.'
