Friday, 8 July, is the closing date for applications for special votes for the Local Government Elections on 3 August. All applications for both home visits and voting station visits must reach the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) by 17:00.
In the case of home visits, you may apply if you are physically infirm, disabled or pregnant, and cannot travel to your voting station. If your application is approved by the IEC, you will then cast a special vote at your home on 1 or 2 August. This applies to residents of retirement centres as well as flats and single houses.
If you are fit to visit your voting station but will be out of town on 3 August you may visit the voting station at which you are registered on the two previous days. However, the IEC must also approve your application by 17:00 on Friday.
DA councillors Saal de Jager and Shirley Vermaak have received a large number of calls from people requiring special votes and in most cases the IEC has approved the applications.
Vermaak has pointed out that home visits will only be made to people registered in the ward in which they live, which has caused disappointment for many residents who did not re-register where necessary.
“In the past, for example, IEC teams from the Parys Library, Town Hall and N.G.Kerk-Wes voting stations would approve applications and visit infirm voters throughout the town,” she says, “But now the teams will only visit people registered in their specific voting district.
With all four retirement centres and several smaller old-age homes in the new Ward 12 (currently Ward 13), only the Library team will visit residents of Sally Martin Park, Najaarsrus and A.M.O.T, while the Town Hall team will visit Villa Riviera. The same applies special voters living in houses and flats.”
Voters who are able to cast their ballots on 3 August Day will still be able to do so, as long as they visit the voting station where they are registered.
