IEC READY FOR SPECIAL VOTING AHEAD OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
The IEC says 2.6 million voters across the country have been approved for special voting. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo explains who qualifies for special voting and how the process will work.
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Of the approved voters, around 678,000 will receive home visits from election officials, while 1.9 million are expected to cast their votes at their registered voting stations. In the Northern Cape, 129,000 voters have been approved for special voting.
Voting stations will be open from 8 in the morning until 5 in the afternoon on both days. However, stations may close earlier once all approved special voters have been assisted. The IEC is asking voters who have been approved for home visits to remain at their registered addresses while waiting for officials.
Mamabolo says officials will not return to an address if they arrive and find that the voter is not at home.
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However, voters who miss their scheduled home visit will not lose their opportunity to vote. They can still visit their registered voting station on Wednesday, 4 November. The Commission has deployed 127,000 electoral officials to manage the special voting process across the country.
The IEC has also reminded voters that special votes will not be counted today or tomorrow. Ballot papers will be kept safely and counted together with the votes cast on election day.
