The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) announced the dates for special votes.

The first type of special vote is for home visits, for those who are unable to reach a voting station and includes the elderly or people living with disabilities. The visits will take place on May 6 and potential voters must be correctly registered to ensure that the process can be completed.

For these voters, a booking must be made online after which a member from the relevant voting station will contact the voter to arrange a time.

For voters who are away on the voting day, votes can be cast on May 7 at voting stations which will be open from 9 am to 5 pm.

Applications for a special vote will only be accepted from April 4 – 18.

To apply for a special vote, voters must apply via the Electoral Commission SA website, book online, download and complete the form, then drop off at the correct IEC office before the closing of business on April 18.

Voters can also apply via SMS, however, this is not recommended for home visits. To use the SMS functionality send your identification number to 32249. This can only be done between April 4 to April 18.

For those who are travelling and want to vote in a foreign country, you can do so at a South African Consulate or Mission on April 27 from 7 am to 9 pm.

A VEC10 form which can be found on the IEC website must be completed by March 13 and you will need your ID and passport.

Provincial votes can be cast anywhere in the province in which you are registered, for example, if you are registered to vote in Randburg, but work in Rosebank, you can vote at Rosebank Primary School and your provincial vote will count. National votes can be cast anywhere in SA and will be counted.

ANNISA ESSACK

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