What happens on the day of voting
Remember, once your ballot has been placed in the ballot box, it can’t be removed.
It is voting day in the country’s sixth election on May 8.
This is the time for all voters to share in the constitutional right of voting and thus to celebrate #imademymark
In Boksburg, voters will go to the voting station at which they are registered (check your voter registration status to find out where you’re registered).
During national and provincial elections, you can vote at any station countrywide but, if you vote at a station outside the province in which you’re registered, you can only vote in the national election.
On the day of voting, one needs to show a green, bar-coded, South African ID book or a temporary identification certificate to the voting officer.
The voting officer will check that your name appears on the voters’ roll. If you are not on the voters’ roll but have proof that you have registered (such as a registration sticker), the Presiding Officer must validate your proof of registration.
If he/she is satisfied with the proof, you must complete a VEC4 form (national elections) or MEC7 form (municipal elections) and will then be allowed to continue as an ordinary voter.
Once the voting officer is satisfied that you have the correct ID, are a registered voter and have not already voted, your name is marked off the roll, your ID is stamped on the second page and your thumbnail is inked.
The voting officer will then stamp the back of the correct number of official ballot papers (one per election) and gives them to you.
As a voter you must then take your ballot paper/s to an empty ballot booth, mark the ballot paper, fold it so that your choice isn’t visible and place the ballot paper in the ballot box. Take note, you can only vote once in each election.
• Physically disabled voters
If you are physically disabled or visually impaired, you can choose someone to help you at the voting station.
The Presiding Officer can also help you cast your vote, but an observer and, if available, two agents from different parties must be present.
In the event of incorrectly marking a ballot paper and realising this before placing the paper in the ballot box, just ask the Presiding Officer for a new ballot paper.
One must also make sure that the incorrect ballot paper is marked as cancelled.
• Information obtained from the IEC website.
For more #hyperlocal news at your fingertips, visit Benoni City Times, Springs Advertiser, Brakpan Herald, African Reporter and Kathorus Mail.
