Applications for special votes for this year’s local government elections will open this Friday, 10 June, and will close on 8 July.
Voters can apply for a special vote at Independent Electronic commission (IEC) through an SMS number which will go live tomorrow and through the official IEC election application.
Residents can also obtain MEC35 forms that could only be hand delivered at the local IEC.
Residents will be notified by an SMS when the applications are processed, but can also check the status of special vote application online.
Allocated special voting days are 1 and 2 August before the Election Day on 3 August.
A special vote allows a registered voter, who cannot vote at their voting station on Election Day, to apply to vote on a predetermined day before Election Day.
Residents who would be away from their voting district from 1 to 3 August would, unfortunately, forfeit the vote and voting abroad is only possible in national elections, and not in municipal elections.
By law, residents can apply for a special vote if they cannot travel to their voting station due to being physically infirmed, disabled or pregnant, or if they could not vote at the station where they are registered on election day but can do so on the predetermined special voting days.
Residents who can travel to a voting station where they are registered prior to the Election Day must vote at the voting station where they are registered either on 1 or 2 August.
Voting stations will be open from 8am to 5pm for special voting and will open from 7am to 7pm on Election Day.
Voting officials will visit those who cannot travel to the voting stations to their homes within the voting district where they are registered and allow them to vote.
If your application for a special vote is successful, you will vote as follows:
- n Your thumbnail is marked with indelible ink
- n Your ID book is stamped
- n You receive the relevant ballot papers
- n You mark the ballots in secret, place and seal the ballots in an unmarked envelope.
Ward 89 Councillor Ingrid Reinten added that home visits only work when residents are in their voting district. She advised residents to contact their respective councillors for assistance and more information.
Details: Independent Electronic Commission, 0800 11 8000; Ward 89 Councillor Ingrid Reinten, 083 440 8343.
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