Applications for special votes close Friday

Applications for special votes will close tomorrow, 3 May 2024, says the Electoral Commission (IEC).

Persons who intend to vote by special vote must first apply or cause an application to be submitted on their behalf as follows:

• Using the secured online application form found at www.elections.org.za
• By sending the identity number of the voter by SMS to 32249 (R1.00 per SMS) for voting station visits only
• By submitting an Appendix 1B form at the local office of the IEC for a voting station special vote
• By submitting an Appendix 1A form at the local office of the IEC for a home visit special vote

The commission said in a statement on Thursday that it was important for the public to note that there are two categories of special votes affected by the deadline tomorrow.

The first relates to home visits for those registered voters who are infirm or have impaired mobility. These voters may apply to be visited at home or a place of confinement.

The second category of special votes is available to any registered voter who wishes to vote early at their voting station.

The commission reiterated 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.

Furthermore, the commission reported that over a million special votes applications have already been approved for these elections.

In terms of the election timetable, both categories of special votes will be conducted on 27 and 28 May, from 9am to 5pm.

Election Day will be held on 29 may 2024.

In the last hours before the applications deadline, the commission has called on registered voters who wish to vote by special vote to ensure that they submit applications as no late applications will be accommodated. – SAnews.gov.za