#IMadeMyMark: typical questions from voters
These are some of the questions voters ask regarding elections.
Will there be elections this year?
This is probably the question on most voters’ lips due to the IEC bidding to have elections postponed.
While the matter is in court pending the verdict, and whether the elections will take place in October or early next year, there are questions voters tend to ask regarding elections.
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Typical questions from voters:
Q: If I am travelling on Election Day, will I be able to vote?
A: No. You can only vote at the voting station where you are registered.
Q: What if someone still has a temporary ID because they lost their ID and their proper ID has not arrived?
A: To vote you need a proper ID document. You can vote with a temporary ID document if it has not expired. Go to the Home Affairs offices and try to find out what happened to your ID because maybe it is waiting for you.
Q: When is a vote spoilt?
A: It is quite difficult to spoil a vote. Any mark that makes the voter’s choice clear is acceptable. It is only a spoilt paper if the voting paper is left blank or the voter makes more than one mark on it, or if the voter writes their name on it. A spoilt paper will not be counted.
Q: What kind of marks will be accepted as a vote?
A: A cross is definitely the best mark to use, but any other mark that makes the voter’s choice clear will also be accepted. So if you make a tick or any other sign in the right box next to only one party’s name, your vote will be counted.
Q: What about people who are in prison?
A: Prisoners will not be able to vote in local elections.
Q: What happens if people are still waiting in the queue at closing time?
A: Anyone who is in the queue by 19:00 must be allowed to vote. The presiding officer will declare the voting station closed but must tell people in the queue that they must wait and vote before the officials can go home. No one new may join the queue after closing time.
Q: Will you be able to wear organisational T-shirts and badges in the voting station?
A: The voters should be able to wear whatever they like when coming to vote but officials working for the IEC will not be allowed to wear any symbols, T-shirts or badges of political parties. Party agents will be given special signs to show they are party agents but may not campaign near the voting or in the station or wear party T-shirts or buttons. Candidates may wear whatever they like, but inside the voting station boundary, they must cover rosettes or T-shirts with party emblems – put on a jacket or jersey.
Q: Will South Africans living in other countries be allowed to vote?
A: No. South Africans living or working overseas will not be able to vote in this election.
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