Applications for special votes close today. Picture by IEC.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) yesterday, said 108 million voters had already registered for special votes for this year’s national elections.
Spokesperson for the IEC, Kate Bapela said online applications for special votes closes tonight at 23:59 whilst applications at the physical offices of the IEC closes at 5PM.
Bapela urged the South Africans wishing to vote through special votes to utilise the remaining hours to submit their applications.
“In the last hours before the applications’ deadline, the Commission calls on registered voters who wish to vote by special vote to ensure that they submit applications as no late applications can be accommodated. It’s your democracy, own it,” said Bapela.
Bapela said although there are two categories of applications for special votes, all voters qualify to apply.
She said, “The first [category] relates to home visits for registered voters who are infirm or have impaired mobility. Such voters may apply to be visited at home or a place of confinement.”
Everyone qualifies to vote. Picture by IEC.
Bapela added, “The second category of special votes is available to any registered voter who wishes to vote early at their voting station. The Commission reiterates that there is no automatic age-based qualification for a special vote. Special votes are available to all voters, but only upon application by the deadline date of 3 May.”
How to apply for a special vote:
Bapela said people who intend to vote by special vote must either apply online on the IEC’s website www.elections.org.za or visit their physical offices to submit the Appendix 1A or 1B form for the home visit or voting station special vote, respectively. The special voters who intend to vote at a voting station can also send their identity number by SMS to 32249 (R1.00 per SMS).
Voters queueing at a voting station. Picture by IEC.