How to vote in the elections

The voting procedure is quite simple.

Voters have to remember that it is a secret where they make their mark on the ballot papers.

The Independent Electoral Commission describes the procedure on its website, www.elections.org.za

To be able to vote go to the voting station where you are registered.

If you are not close to a voting station during the national and provincial elections, a registered voter may vote at any station countrywide. Voters who want to vote outside the province where they were registered, may only vote for their party on the national election ballot paper.

In the queue an election officer will check your green bar-coded identity document or temporary identification certificate to make sure you are a registered voter. (see 1 on the picture).

If you are not on the voters’ roll, but have proof that you have registered, the presiding officer must validate your proof of registration. If this officer is satisfied with the proof, you will have to complete two forms before being allowed to vote.

At the door an election official will scan your ID with the ‘zip-zip’ machine and give you a slip of paper (see 2).

You will then have to go to the voters’ table where you will give this slip of paper to the voters’ roll officer (3). Once the voting officer is satisfied that you have the correct identity document, are a registered voter and have not already voted, your name is marked off the roll. Your identity document is then is stamped on the second page.

You will then go to another table where your thumbnail is inked on the nail of your left thumb (4).

At another table you will receive the two ballot papers you will vote on (5). The voting officer also stamps the back of your official ballots before handing them to you.

If you are voting in your province where registered, you will get two ballot papers with all the political parties on them.

Then you take your ballot papers to an empty ballot booth (6) where you, in secret, make one cross next to your party of choice on each of the ballot papers. Remember you can only vote once in each election.

After this, you fold it them so that your choice is not visible and place the ballot papers in the ballot box.

Once your ballot has been placed in the ballot box, it can’t be removed.

If you incorrectly mark a ballot paper and realise this before placing the paper in the ballot box, you may get a new ballot paper by requesting the presiding officer for one. Make sure that the incorrect ballot paper is marked as cancelled.

People who are physically disabled or visually impaired may choose to have someone help them at the voting station. You may take someone who is at least 18 years old and not a party agent, with you to the voting station to help you cast your vote. You can also ask the presiding officer at the voting station to help you or provide you with a voting aid known as a universal ballot template (UBT).

There are police or army personnel at every voting station to ensure the safety and non-intimidation of the voters.