Ready, set and go for Election Day
Two days to go before Zululanders head to the polls.
WITH 6 130 special vote applications approved within the uThungulu District, local electoral staff say all is in place for a free and fair ballot as special voting gets underway next week.
More than 3 000 electoral staff will be on duty doing 5 319 home visits and 811 voting station visits across the district on Monday and Tuesday.
Special votes cater for the physically infirm, disabled, or pregnant women as well as registered voters unable to vote in their voting districts on voting day.
It also applies to registered voters who will serve as election officers, political party agents or who are on duty as members of the security services on Election Day.
More than 4 200 electoral staff will be working on Election Day at 544 voting stations within the district.
uThungulu IEC Regional Supervisor, Thule Dlamini, said they were currently busy with in-house preparations to ensure a glitch-free election process.
‘People must go early to polling stations to make their mark. Your vote is very important and is a right we have as South African citizens. Voting stations will be open from 7am to 9pm,’ said Dlamini.
Ballots
Voters, who will cast two ballots – a provincial and national ballot – have also been urged to check the back of their ballots are stamped with an IEC stamp.
‘If your ballot does not have the IEC stamp, it will not be counted,’ said Dlamini.
Meanwhile, political parties have been warned to abide by the electoral code of conduct to prevent incidents of violence and intimidation.
‘Pulling down posters is a criminal offence and offenders will be arrested.
‘As the IEC, we want to ensure an environment conducive to a free and fair election. Parties have pledged to good behaviour and if this is flouted, it has criminal implications.
Police will be stationed at all voting stations on Election Day,’ said Dlamini.
Breakdown of approved special vote applications in uThungulu:
uMfolozi – 1 064
uMhlathuze – 1 465
Ntambanana – 658
uMlalazi – 1 428
Mthonjaneni – 417
Nkandla – 1 098
