IEC Ready to Administer Special Vote

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) began administering special votes today, a process that will continue through tomorrow and Tuesday, ahead of the general Election Day on Wednesday.

Special votes from South Africans living abroad have already been cast. Domestically, special votes cater to those who are infirm or have impaired mobility, with IEC officials visiting them at their homes or places of confinement. Additionally, special votes accommodate individuals who cannot access their voting stations on the general Election Day, set for May 29, 2024.

During a media briefing on Sunday, IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi announced that over 1.6 million South Africans have been approved to vote during the special voting period. Approximately 624,593 of these voters will be visited by IEC staff, while the rest are expected to visit their designated voting stations.

“We are encouraged by the number of special votes received, which indicates the enthusiasm with which the South African population has for these elections,” Sheburi stated.

Special votes will be administered in the presence of representatives from contesting parties and observers, where available. Entry into homes, however, will be at the discretion of the homeowner.

Sheburi reminded voters to have their identity documents ready to confirm their participation. He explained the procedure for casting a special vote: after marking their ballots, voters will place them in an unmarked envelope, which will then be placed inside a larger envelope bearing the voter’s details.

“The purpose of the envelopes is to ensure that we can verify that only persons who have been approved to vote by special vote have voted but also to ensure the secrecy of the vote by delinking the vote from the voter,” Sheburi added.

The IEC’s efforts aim to ensure that all eligible voters have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process, reinforcing the commitment to free, fair, and accessible elections.