Special voters started to cast their votes yesterday as months of electioneering draws to a close. Tomorrow, the rest of us will have our chance to go to the ballots. For those first timers (or those who need a refresher course).
Here are the Do’s and Don’ts for the first- time electorate.
DO’s
Bring your ID
Check the back of the ballot paper for the IEC stamp
Fold the ballot papers so that the stamp is on top
Check if you are registered: SMS your ID number to 32810o
Get informed: download the IEC election app: http://www.elections.org.za/comtent/For-Voters/Mobile-apps/
Keep up-to-date on all the elections coverage by following @LiveMagSA #LiveVIPZA, our Facebook page or YouTube page.
Don’ts
Take a selfie in the voting booth – you can always tweet your inked thumb afterwards
Show anyone your marked ballot
Rock up unprepared – follow our do’s list and you won’t get caught out
Accept any bribes – report this to an official immediately
Make any marks on the ballot paper besides your ‘x’ (unless you want it to be considered a spoilt ballot )
Here’s how it will all go down
First, stand in line and wait your turn. You will then be ticked off the voters’ roll. They will give you two ballot papers – one for national and one for provincial. You will then need to go into the ballot box so that no one sees. Your vote is your secret. Make an ‘x’ next to your chosen party then fold your ballot paper in half and put into the box provided. Your thumb will be inked. This is proof you have done your democratic duty, wear it with pride.
Frequently asked questions
If I voted in 2009 but didn’t register for this election, can I vote?
Yes, your registration is attached to your ID number. If you register once, you are on the voters’ roll for life. Registration is for first-time voters or if you have moved house in the last five years.
I lost my ID document. Can I still vote?
No, you will not be allowed to vote without your ID. You can go to Home Affairs for a Temporary ID.
Can you vote with your Driver’s Licence?
No, only a Temporary Identity Document, ID card or ID book will work.
Can I vote with my birth certificate?
Refer to question 3.
I registered to vote but did not receive a white bar coded sticker, can I still vote?
Yes, only at the voting station you registered at. If you go anywhere else you need to have proof of registration (that is the white sticker).
If I make a mistake on the ballot paper, can I get another?
Yes, speak to an IEC official on-site
I am going to hospital unexpectedly on Wednesday, can I vote today as a special voter?
No, you will not be able to vote as a special voter. Special voter registration ended on the 17th of April – only people who applied to cast a special vote would be able to.
Say, my car breaks down or the train runs late on the way to my voting station, can I vote at another?
Yes, you can vote at any voting station. You have to present your ID and fill out a form. It would be quicker to vote at the place you registered at though. You also need to have a proof or registration sticker if you choose this option.
I am out of the country, can I still vote?
Yes, if you are registered you can vote outside the country. But, unlike number 8 where you would get both ballot papers, here you will get only the National ballot paper.
How do I know if I am registered?
You can check by smsing your ID number to 32810 or download the elections app here:
http://www.elections.org.za/content/About-Us/News/Electoral-Commission-launches-election-APPS/
What time does voting close?
For special voters today, it opens at 9am and ends at 5pm
For the rest of us tomorrow it will open at 7am and run until 9am
Some political parties are still electioneering, when does that end?
Most campaigns should be winding down at this stage. Some parties held their last rallies this past weekend. In terms of electoral law though, they have to stop by midnight tonight. It will be over soon- don’t worry.
When will we know the results?
The IEC have a week from Wednesday to release the results. However they have promised that the results will be out in three days.
images: IEC
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