AS Election Day begins, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has said it’s ready for the seventh National and Provincial Elections.
Tuesday marked the second day of the casting of special votes with 1.6 million special votes approved for those who are physically infirm, disabled or pregnant, or who could not vote.
The IEC has also asked citizens to remember some key points about Election Day.
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1 Driver’s licences and passports are not permitted:
Your ID is the only thing you need to vote. “Don’t leave home without your Smart ID Card, Green Barcoded ID Book, or Temporary ID Certificate when you go to vote. Remember, only these documents are accepted – passports or driver’s licences will not be permitted,” the IEC said.
2 Mark on left thumb:
Each voter will be verified on the voters’ roll and marked with ink on the left thumb.
3 Three ballot papers:
This year, voters will receive three ballot papers: the national, regional, and provincial ballot papers. Voters are reminded to indicate their choices with one mark on each ballot. (Voters who have given pre-notification to vote at a voting station outside the province in which they are registered will receive only the national ballot.)
4 Ensure ballot is stamped:
Each ballot paper must be validated with a stamp on the reverse. All three ballots must be deposited in the ballot box at the voting station.
5 No photographs of ballot papers
It is prohibited for a voter to take a photograph of their marked ballot paper. This arrangement is necessary to protect the secrecy of the choice of voters and to avoid voters being coerced or unduly induced into making political choices.
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The IEC also reminded citizens to cast their ballots to vote where they are registered.
“The commission takes this opportunity to remind voters that they can only vote at voting districts where they are registered. The only voters who may vote outside their voting districts on May 29 are those who have notified the commission within the period, March 15 to May 17, as stipulated in the Election Timetable, that they would be away from their designated districts and wished to change their voting location,” said the commission in a statement.
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