Registration for special votes will open soon.
Special votes will be open to those who are pregnant, physically dissabled or cannot vote at the stations.
ALBERTON – The window to apply for special votes opens on April 7 and closes at 17:00 on April 17.
These applications must be made at the office of the Municipal Electoral Officer, and between the hours of 09:00 and 17:00. By law, you can apply for a special vote if you can’t travel to your voting station because you are physically infirm, disabled or pregnant; or can’t vote at your voting station on election day.
VEC1 forms must be completed and must be hand-delivered to the IEC offices, but can be delivered by a proxy on behalf of the individual applying.
Special voting will take place over two days: Monday May 5 and Tuesday May 6. The draft calendar indicates that special votes will take place both at the voting station and for home visits on both days.
This is a departure from previous years, where the Monday was dedicated to home visits and the voting station did not open for voting. This has a massive impact on our operations, as we now need to identify party agents to be present at the voting station on both days ahead of Election Day itself, and also mobile agents to follow the IEC teams for home visits. There are 22 265 voting stations around South Africa – the challenge is significant.
Voter queries:
*If a voter expects to be overseas on April 30 and not in the country by May 7, the time for application closed on March 12 already and he/she will not be able to cast a vote.
*If a voter will be in the country on May 5 or 6, but not on May 7, he/she must apply for a special vote between April 7 and 17 and vote on one of the special voting days.
*If a voter will not be overseas and able to go to an embassy, consulate or mission on April 30, but will also not be in South Africa between May 5 and 7, then they simply do not fall into any window where the council or the IEC can assist.
