Special votes – take note

In the City of Johannesburg, ward 56 voter education has been seriously lacking. To try and rectify this issue, I would like to bring the following to the notice of the voters.

In terms of current legislation (please visit the Independent Electoral Commission website www.elections.org.za for more information) voters are allowed special votes under certain circumstances.

Special voter applications open on June 10 and close on July 8. The following people can apply for a special vote, if they meet the requirements and are registered voters: people who will be working on Election Day, such as SAPS, nurses and firefighters; senior citizens who may find it difficult to stand for long periods of time; people with disabilities who will find the logistics of voting day difficult; couples who are pregnant; people who are immobile due to illness, at home or in hospital; and people who will be away on business on voting day.

Voters can apply for special Votes by using one of the following methods:

1.Online at www.elections.org.za.

2.Via SMS using 32249. Note: this is for voting station special votes only.

3.At your local IEC office (for ward 56 the office is at Eureka House, Ground Floor, 92 Marlborough Road, Springfield, opposite Mini Town).

4.Complete form MEC35 and it can be delivered on your behalf.

5.Download the official IEC election application, for free from the Google Play Store and Apple App store.

Where do I vote?

1.If you can travel, but can’t vote at the voting station where you are registered on election day, you must vote at the voting station where you are registered either on Monday, August 1 or Tuesday, August 2. Voting stations will be open from 08:00 to 17:00 for special voting (not from 07:00 to 19:00 as is the case on election day).

2.If you can’t travel to the voting station where you are registered because you are physically infirm, disabled or pregnant, voting officials will visit you on Monday, August 1 or Tuesday, August 2 at the place where you live (must be within the voting district where you’re registered) and allow you to vote.

What happens when I cast a special vote?

If your application for a special vote is successful, you will vote as follows:

1. Your thumbnail is marked with indelible ink.

2. Your ID book is stamped. New ID card is not stamped.

3. You receive the relevant ballot papers. Please note in metropolitan wards you will receive two ballot papers. The one ballot paper is to vote for your ward councillor – select the person that you know will work for your ward. The second ballot paper is to vote for your party of choice. This vote determines how many proportional representative councillors each party will have.

4. You mark the ballots in secret, place and seal the ballots in an unmarked envelope.

5. The unmarked envelope is placed in another envelope that is marked with your name, ID number and voting district (VD) number. The use of two envelopes is to ensure the secrecy of your ballot (the outer envelope is discarded before counting).

6. IEC officials take the envelope and place it in a secure ballot box for special votes.

7. Your name is marked off the voters’ roll with “SV” to indicate that you have cast a special vote.

Phillip Venter, independent candidate (no political party affiliation). 082 475 8471

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