Elections: Voting made simple
The 2014 South African national and provincial elections take place on Wednesday, 7 May.
In order to cast a vote in the 2014 general election, a person has to be a South African citizen as well as be registered to vote.
Registration and voting station can be confirmed by anyone who SMSes their identity number to 32810.
In terms of election legislation, the following people qualify to apply for a special vote:
1. A person who is physically infirm, disabled or pregnant and who is unable to travel to a voting station. People who meet this criteria can apply for a home visit, which will be conducted by IEC officials on Monday, 5 May.
2. An officer serving in the election process or a member of the security services who will be absent from their registered voting district on election day;
3. A person who will be absent from their registered voting district on election day.
4. A person who will be absent from the country on election day.
5. A person who will be serving as a member of the security services on election day.
“People who qualify in terms of points 2 to 5 can apply for a special vote and can then cast their vote at their registered voting station on Tuesday, 6 May, the day prior to the actual election date,” said ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge.
Applications for a special vote in terms of points 1 to 5 have to be submitted on an Appendix 1 form, accompanied by a certified copy of the applicant’s bar coded identity document to the IEC offices in Westville between 7 and 17 April.
Forms can be obtained from the IEC or by calling Cllr Beetge on 082-718-8137, who will also be able to facilitate with further information.
If a person find themselves out of town and their registered voting district on 7 May, they can present themselves to the closest IEC voting station where they will be required to fill out a form Appendix 4 (sworn or affirmed statement by voter whose name is not on voters roll) and will then be handed both a provincial and national ballot form, being that they are still within the boundary of the province in which they are registered and obviously also within RSA.
There is however, a difference if a person is outside the provincial boundary of KZN on 7 May, but still within RSA. They can still go to the closest voting station and fill out an Appendix 4 form, and if they comply with all requirements, they will only be issued a national ballot form, being that one cannot vote for the provincial legislature if you do not reside in that particular province.
