How to vote in the elections

For you to be able to vote in the National and Provincial Elections, you must:

• be registered before the voters’ roll closes (it closed on the day President Jacob Zuma proclaimed the election date);

• be a South African citizen, who is 18 years or older on voting day;

• have a green bar-coded ID book, a valid Temporary Identification Certificate (TIC) or a smartcard ID; and

• be registered on the voters’ roll.

What to expect when you get to the voting station:

•  You will give your ID/TIC/smartcard to the IEC Official on duty.

• He or she will look for your name on the voters’ roll and cross it off.

• An IEC official will give you two ballot papers that he/she will stamp at the back. This prevents people from trying to bring ballots in from elsewhere.

Why two ballot papers?

• One paper is to choose your preferred political party for the National Assembly.

• The other paper is to choose your party for the Provincial Legislature for the province in which you live.

What information will be on the ballot paper?

• The full name of each political party

• The abbreviated (shortened) name of each party

• The logo or symbol of each party

•  A photograph of each party leader

• A blank space to indicate the party of your choice

Can you be assisted when voting?

• Anyone with a disability can choose someone who is over 18 to help them. The person you choose cannot be a political party agent.

• Anyone who cannot read or write can only be assisted by the Presiding Officer.

Two party agents must be there too.

Information taken from the IEC website at www.elections.org.za