Application for special vote now open

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on Thursday opened the window period for applications by voters to cast special votes in the upcoming national and provincial elections, which closes on April 18.

The IEC said there were two categories of special votes cast inside the country and these were special votes cast during homes visits and those cast at a voting station for voters who were unable to cast their ballot on the day of the elections.

Votes cast during home visits are only available to voters who are unable to reach a voting station, the IEC said, and a voter may apply to be visited at an address outside of their voting district where they are registered due to physical infirmity, disability, or pregnancy.

“These will be conducted between 9am and 5pm on Monday 6 May 2019 and 7 May 2019, if necessary,” the IEC said.

The special votes cast at a voting station can be cast at the voting station where you are registered between 9am and 5pm on Monday, May 6 and Tuesday, May 7.

The IEC said voters could apply for special votes in a home visit by submitting an application online via a secure portal at https://www.elections.org.za/IECOnline/Special-Vote-Session or by submitting a completed VEC 1 form at the local office of the IEC in an area a voter intends to be visited.

“Forms can only be hand-delivered – no emails or faxes are accepted. These forms can be delivered by a third party on behalf of the voter. VEC 1 forms are available for download at https://www.elections.org.za/IECOnline/About-Special-Vote,” the IEC said.

The IEC said voters could apply for special votes cast at a voter’s voting station by SMSing their ID numbers to 32249 at R1 an SMS.

The IEC said all applicants for both types of special votes will receive an SMS notifying them of the outcome of their application once it has been processed.

“Voters can also check the status of their special vote application online at https://www.elections.org.za/IECOnline/Check-My-Special-Vote-Application-Status,” the commission said.

Applications for special votes to be cast by South African voters abroad closed on March 13 2019, the IEC said.

(Compiled by Makhosandile Zulu)

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