It is not true that you can’t vote with fake nails – IEC’s chief electoral officer reassures voters and rubbishes some other claims
JOBURG – He further added that the special voting process earlier in the week had started well which was a 'very solid and encouraging start' to the voting process.
With concerns raised over elections across the country, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) was satisfied with the first day of special votes which began on Monday, 6 May.
The special voting process took place across the country at voting stations and through home visits. Areas that have not completed their special voting continued on 7 May.
Earlier in the week, the chief electoral officer, Sy Mamabolo, said, “As a test run of our planning and preparations today was a very solid and encouraging start. It has given us the opportunity to put our plans, systems and logistics to the test and see where we may need to focus attention on Wednesday.”
Mamabolo rubbished claims made on social networking sites alleging that IEC pens did not work and that people should not use the pencils provided because pencil markings could be erased. “This is another form of disinformation and fake news. We use black pens to mark ballot papers and the ballots are then inserted by the voter into sealed ballot boxes. All of this – and the ultimate removal and counting of cast ballots – is done in front of party agents and observers so there is no chance for ballots to be interfered with,” said Mamabolo.
Mamabolo added that other social media posts questioned the ineffectiveness of the indelible ink and claimed that voters with fake nails would be forced to remove their nails or not be allowed to vote. “Unfortunately, these are recurring themes of disinformation which have cropped up around each election. It is not true that you can’t vote with fake nails. The indelible ink is effective and it is one of a number of safeguards to protect the integrity of the results.”
Following the incident in the Eastern Cape where IEC officials and voters were prevented from conducting the election process due to unrest, Mamabolo appealed to communities to support and defend democracy by voting and protecting the electoral process.
“Police have warned that any disruptions to the elections will not be tolerated and an increased police presence is planned for areas where protest and civil unrest is anticipated,” he said.
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