The following are core prescriptions generally accepted as applicable to the behaviour of political parties during a democratic election campaign.
Application of the Code
In this code, “party” includes:
a) any entity that subscribes to this Code of Conduct, including political parties, independent candidates, alliances or coalitions of parties, and political movements other than parties; and
b) the leader, officials, candidates, members, agents, and representatives of any entity that subscribes to this Code of Conduct. However, the party isn’t fully liable for its members if it makes a good-faith effort to inform its members of the code and encourage them to abide by it.
Principles of the Code
a) The legitimacy of a government chosen through democratic multi-party elections rests on these principles
- that as a result of being informed through the electoral campaign of the policies and qualities of all political parties and candidates, voters are able to make an informed choice; and
- that voters are able to vote freely, without interference, fear, undue influence, or bribery.
b) All parties, having accepted this election campaign Code of Conduct, commit themselves to these principles and undertake voluntarily and in good faith to adhere to the Code so that:
- these principles will be upheld;
- the elections will be recognized as expressing the free choice of the voters; and
- the result of that choice will be respected by all
c) In any matter relating to the election process, a party will conduct itself in conformity with the prescriptions set out below.
Compliance with the Code
a) A party that has subscribed to this Code:
- is bound by the Code
- will take decisive steps to prohibit leaders, officials, candidates, and members from infringing the Code;
- will take all reasonable steps to discourage any type of conduct by their supporters which would, if undertaken by a party official, candidate, or member, be in breach of the Code; and
- will not abuse the right to complain about violations of the Code, nor make false, frivolous, or vexatious complaints.
b) The leader of a party that has subscribed to this Code will issue directives to the party’s officials, candidates, members, and supporters, requiring each of them to:
- familiarize themselves with the Code;
- observe the Code; and
- take all other necessary steps to ensure compliance.
Adherence to the law
A party that has subscribed to this Code will adhere to existing election laws, rules, and regulations as well as any that are legally instituted subsequent to the signature of this Code.
Campaign management
a) A party that has subscribed to this Code will
- respect the right and freedom of all other parties to campaign, and to disseminate their political ideas and principles without fear;
- conduct itself in a manner that respects the rights of other parties, and respects the rights of voters and other members of the community;
- respect the freedom of the press;
- use its good offices to seek to ensure reasonable freedom of access by all parties to all potential voters; and
- seek to ensure that potential voters wishing to participate in related political activities enjoy the freedom to do so.
b) A party that has subscribed to this Code will not
- harass or obstruct journalists who are engaged in their professional activities, or disrupt, destroy, or frustrate the campaign efforts of any other party;
- prevent the distribution of handbills and leaflets, and the display of posters, of other parties and candidates;
- deface or destroy posters of other parties and candidates;
- prevent any other party from holding rallies, meetings, marches, or demonstrations;
- seek to prevent any person from attending the political rallies of another party; or
- encourage its supporters to do anything prohibited by this section or condone such actions.
The election process
a) A party that has subscribed to this Code will:
- co-operate with election officials in order to ensure:
peaceful and orderly polling; and
complete freedom for voters to exercise their right
to vote without being subjected to any annoyance or obstructions
ensure the safety and security of electoral officials before, during, and after the polls;
* maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of the voting.
b) A party that has subscribed to this Code will not:
- procure votes by forcible occupation of polling stations or through illegal activities in the polling stations;
- interfere unjustifiably or in bad faith with the duties of election officials, or disturb the process of casting or counting votes; or
- falsely assert to voters that their votes will not be secret.
Accepting the outcome of a free and fair election
A party that has subscribed to this Code will:
- accept the outcome of an election that has been certified;
- submit any grievance only to the relevant dispute settlement agency; and
- accept and comply with, and encourage its members and supporters to accept and comply with, the final decision of the dispute settlement agency.
Language
a) A party that has subscribed to this Code will:
- organize and conduct its election campaign in a manner that contributes toward a congenial and peaceful atmosphere during the campaign period, the polling, the counting, and the post-election period; and
- act with a sense of responsibility and dignity befitting its status.
b) Speakers at political rallies will avoid using language that:
- is inflammatory, or defamatory; or
- threatens or incites violence in any form against any other person or group of persons
c) A party that has subscribed to this Code will not issue, either officially or anonymously, pamphlets, newsletter, or posters containing language or material that threatens or incites violence.
Symbols
A party that has subscribed to this Code will not:
- imitate the symbols of another party;
- steal, disfigure, or destroy political or campaign materials of another party; or
- encourage its supporters to do anything prohibited by this section or condone such action.
Intimidation and violence
a) A party that has subscribed to this Code accepts that intimidation, in any form, is unacceptable, and will:
- issue directives expressly forbidding its officials, candidates, members, and supporters to intimidate any person at any time;
- campaign against violence or threats of violence, and against any acts of vandalism or public disorder committed by or threatened by their officials, candidates, members, or supporters, and publicly denounce any such action; and
- respect other persons and parties, and their property
b) The leader of a party that has subscribed to this Code will instruct the party’s officials, candidates, members, and supporters that no weapon of any kind, including any traditional weapon, may be brought to any political rally, meeting, march, or other demonstration.
c) A party that has subscribed to this Code will not:
- engage in or permit any kind of violent activity to demonstrate party strength or to prove supremacy;
- cause damage to any private or public property; or
- permit its supporters to do anything prohibited by this section.
Abuse of position
a) A party that has subscribed to this Code will not:
- Abuse a position of power, privilege, or influence for a political purpose, by offering a reward, threatening a penalty, or by any other means; or
- use official State, Provincial, Municipal, or other public resources for campaign purposes.
b) In this section, a “position of power, privilege, or influence” includes a position of parental, patriarchal, governmental, police, military, or traditional authority.
Corrupt practices
A party that has subscribed to this Code will not:
- coerce or offer monetary or other kinds of inducements to persons, directly or indirectly, to vote for or against a particular party or candidate, to surrender or destroy their voter registration card, or to abstain from voting;
- coerce or offer monetary or other kinds of inducements to persons, directly or indirectly, to stand or not to stand as candidates, or to withdraw or not to withdraw their candidacies; or
- procure the support or assistance of any official or civil servant to promote or hinder the election of a candidate.
Continued Communications
a) A party that has subscribed to this Code will:
- make every effort to maintain communication with other parties that have subscribed to this code;
- participate in forum for the discussion of issues of common concern during an electoral campaign established by the parties that have subscribed to this Code.
The committee will comprise representatives of:
political parties
contesting candidates; and
* officials from the Electoral Management Body (EMB).
