Applications for special votes for the National and Provincial elections will be open between Thursday, 4 April to Thursday, 18 April.
During those two weeks, application forms will be available at the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) office in Parys (between Spar and the municipal offices in the Forum building), or from local councillors. It will also be possible to apply for a special vote online.
Special votes will take place on the two days before election day. If voters are physically infirm, disabled or pregnant and cannot travel to their voting station, they may apply for home visits. If the IEC approves their application, they will cast a special vote at their retirement village or home on 6 or 7 May.
If they are fit enough to visit their voting station, but will be on election duty or out of town on 8 May, they may vote on the two previous days. As with applications for home visits, the IEC must approve them by 17:00 on 18 April.
An IEC spokesperson has emphasised that home visits are only for severely disabled people who cannot leave their homes. If they are out when the election officials call, however, the team cannot return.
“The IEC has announced that elderly people who cannot stand in queues for long but can drive or walk to their voting station, may also vote on the Monday or Tuesday before election day,” says the DA councillor, Shirley Vermaak, who serves on a liaison committee with the IEC. “They must also apply for a special vote before 18 April, as no one will be allowed to walk into a voting station and cast their ballots without having applied, and the IEC approving their request.”