4 as the case may be; “election period” means— (a) in the case of a general election or by-election, the period between the issue of a proclamation referred to in section 38 or 39 of the Electoral Act and the day before the beginning of the poll at the election to which such proclamation relates; (b) in the case of a Presidential election, the period between the publication of a notice referred to in section 103 of the Electoral Act and the day before the beginning of the poll at the election to which such proclamation relates; (c) in the case of an election to the governing body of a local authority, the period between the publication of a notice referred to in section 124 of the Electoral Act and the day before the beginning of the poll at the election to which such notice relates; (d) in the case of a referendum, the period between the date of publication in the Gazette in terms of section 3 of the Referendums Act [Chapter 2:13] of a proclamation by the President declaring that a referendum is to be held and the day before the date appointed by that proclamation for the holding of the referendum; “Electoral Act” means the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13] or other Act of Parliament having effect for the purposes of section 58(4) of the Constitution which is for the time being in force; “fixed date” means the date fixed in terms of section 1(2) as the date of commencement of this Act; “Minister” means the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs or any other Minister to whom the President may, from time to time, assign the administration of this Act; “political party” means an association of persons the primary object of which is to secure the election of one or more of its members to a local authority or Parliament, or to the office of President, or to campaign for a specified result at a referendum; “referendum” means a referendum held in terms of the Referendums Act [Chapter 2:10]; “Registrar-General” means the Registrar-General of Voters referred to in section 1 of the Electoral Act. (2) Any word or expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Electoral Act shall have the same meaning when used in this Act.