Apply for a special vote for the 2024 elections

The Electoral Commission reminds voters that the deadline for special vote applications in this year’s national and provincial elections closes on May 3.

All applications for special votes for home and voting station visits opened on April 15 and will close on May 3.

According to IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela, home visits are for those voters unable to travel to voting stations, while special votes at voting stations are for people unable to be at the voting station on election day.

Special voting will happen on the two days preceding election day – May 27 and 28 – from 9:00 to 17:00.

Voters can apply as follows:
• Use the IEC’s secured online application at www.elections.org.za
• SMS your ID number to 32249 (R1.00 per SMS) for voting station visits only.
• Visit your local IEC office and submit an Appendix 1B form for a voting station special vote.
• Visit your local IEC office and submit an Appendix 1A form for a home visit special vote. You can hand-deliver the form, and someone else can deliver a form on behalf of a voter.

“The Commission distances itself from a widely circulated message claiming it has granted permission for everyone aged over 60 to cast a special vote on May 27 and 28 at the polling station where they are registered. This is not a message from the commission,” Bapela said.

Bapela said the Electoral Commission reemphasises that voters must vote where they are registered.

“However, if a voter intends to be in a different voting district on voting day, they must notify the commission of their intended absence from their voting district and identify the voting station where they wish to vote. Known as Section 24A notices, these are live at www.elections.org.za.”

Notifications in this regard close on May 17.

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