With the 2023 Electoral Amendment being implemented, South Africans can expect some historic changes to the voting day process on 29 May.
This comes after the Constitutional Court ordered that independent candidates are eligible to run for Parliament and provincial legislature.
Voting ballots
The IEC explained the three ballots voters can expect on the day:
• A national ballot on which only parties will appear nationwide
• A regional ballot for the district in which the voter is situated. This includes parties and independents contesting, and will differ from region to region.
• A provincial ballot for the provincial legislature in which the voter is situated. This includes parties and independents contesting, and will differ from province to province.
Special conditions
The IEC said only those who vote at stations where they are registered will receive three ballots on election day.
Those voting at a polling station outside the province of registration will receive the national compensatory ballot only.
An individual can only vote outside their voting station if they have notified the IEC of their intentions, and indicate a specific voting station where they will make their mark.
Special vote applications must be made to the IEC by 3 May, with applicants indicating where they will vote. Special votes will take place on 27 and 28 May.
New technologies
King Cetshwayo IEC regional outreach officer Lihle Dube has warned voters to not attempt to vote twice.
“The type of technology we are using this year is very sophisticated. Through ward-based community outreach, we are educating about the third ballot paper and what it means,” said Dube.
She said regional field workers are hard at work in communities at events and churches running voter education programmes.
BOX:
Local voter numbers
King Cetshwayo District: 107 wards with 563 voting districts and 503 395 registered voters:
City of uMhlathuze: 206 073 registered voters
uMlalazi: 111 422 registered voters
uMfolozi: 76 744 registered voters
Nkandla: 62 149 registered voters
Mthonjaneni: 47 007 registered voters
For more information, visit www.elections.org.za
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