This section defines many terms used in the Act, including election-related bodies, places, days, documents, and people.
3. Interpretation In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— “ ballot box ” means the box into which a voter shall deposit the ballot paper or ballot papers corresponding to the candidate or candidates he has voted for in the election ; “ ballot paper ” means a rectangular sheet of paper for use by a voter in expressing his vote in an election ; “ by-election ” means the election of a member of the National Assembly to fill a seat in the National Assembly which has become vacant otherwise than by dissolution of Parliament; “ candidate ” means any person who has been nominated under this Act as a candidate for election as a member of the National Assembly or for election to the office of President; “ Commission ” means the Electoral Commission established under section 30 of the Constitution; “ constituency ” means an area delimited as such under section 31 of the Constitution and section 8 (1) (a) and (b) of the Electoral Commission Act; “ Council ” means the National Consultative Council established by the National Consultative Council Act 1993; “ election ” means a general election or a by-election ; “ election representative ” means a person appointed by a candidate under section 35 to be the candidate’s representative for purposes of an election; “ general election ” means an election consequent upon dissolution of Parliament for the election in accordance with this Act of members of the National Assembly and the President; “ independent candidate ” means a candidate not sponsored by a political party ; “ irregularity; ”, in relation to the conduct of an election , means noncompliance with the requirements of this Act; “ National Assembly ” means the National Assembly constituted under section 19 of the Constitution; “ nomination day ” means the day appointed by the Commission for the receipt of nominations of candidates for an election under this Act; “ political party ” means a political party registered under the Political Parties (Registration and Regulation) Act; [Cap. 2:07] “ polling day ” means any day appointed by the Commission under section 36 (1) (c) and section 48 (1) (b), for the holding of a poll; “ polling station ” means a place established as such under section 67 ; “ polling station officer ” means a person appointed as such under section 68 (1); “ presiding officer ” means a polling station officer designated as such under section 68 (2); “ Referendum ” means the referendum held on 14th June, 1993, under the Constitution (Referendum on Malawi’s Political System) Regulations, 1993; “ registration ” means the registration of voters; “ returning officer ” means a returning officer appointed under section 34 (1); [10 of 1998] “ the first general election ” means the first general election contested by more than one political party following the Referendum ; “ voter ” means a person registered to vote in an election ; “ voters register ” means the register of voters established under section 22 ; “ voters registration certificate ” means a certificate issued to a voter under section 24 ; “ voting booth ” means a compartment at a polling station for screening a voter from view when he is making his choice or choices in the poll. [10 of 1998] Part II – The Electoral Commission 4. *** [section 4 repealed by Act No. 10 of 1998 ] 5. *** [section 5 repealed by Act No. 10 of 1998 ] 6. *** [section 6 repealed by Act No. 10 of 1998 ] 7. *** [section 7 repealed by Act No. 10 of 1998 ] 8. *** [section 8 repealed by Act No. 10 of 1998 ] 9. *** [section 9 repealed by Act No. 10 of 1998 ] 10. *** [section 10 repealed by Act No. 10 of 1998 ] 11. *** [section 11 repealed by Act No. 10 of 1998 ] 12. *** [section 12 repealed by Act No. 10 of 1998 ] 13. *** [section 13 repealed by Act No. 10 of 1998 ] 14. *** [section 14 repealed by Act No. 10 of 1998 ]