Special vote application deadline looms
There are only a few days left to apply for a special vote for this year's municipal elections.
RESIDENTS who qualify for a special vote for this August’s elections are urged to apply before Friday 8 July.
A special vote allows a registered voter who can’t vote at their voting station on election day, to apply to vote on a predetermined day before election day.
Special voting days allocated for the 2016 Municipal Elections are 1 and 2 August – the two days before election day on 3 August.
“If you are away from your voting district from 1 to 3 August, then unfortunately you forfeit your vote in the elections. Also note that voting abroad is only possible in national elections, and not in municipal elections,” said ward councillor, Martin Meyer.
You can apply for a special vote if you are a registered voter and have a green, barcoded ID book, smartcard ID, or a valid temporary Identity Certificate.
To make sure that you’re registered and to find out where you’re registered, you can check your voter registration status online, SMS your ID number to 32810,
Dial *120*432# on your cellphone or make an appointment to visit your local IEC office.
“By law, you can apply for a special vote if you can’t travel to your voting station because you are physically infirm, disabled or pregnant, or can’t vote at your voting station on election day, but can do so on the predetermined special voting days,” said Meyer.
Applications for special votes for the 2016 Municipal Elections will close on Friday 8 July, as specified in the official election timetable.
You can apply for a special vote online on the IEC’s website. You can SMS your ID Number to 32249 (R1 per SMS). This option applies only to voting station special vote. You can also visit your local IEC office by submitting a MEC35 form. Forms can only be hand-delivered, but someone else can deliver your completed form on your behalf. You are also able to apply via the official IEC Election application which can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
You will receive an SMS notifying you of the outcome once your application has been processed, but you can also check the status of your special vote application online.
To vote on the special voting days, if you can travel, but can’t vote at the voting station where you are registered on election day, you must vote at the voting station where you are registered either on Monday 1 August or Tuesday 2 August. Voting stations will be open from 8am to 5pm for special voting (not from 7am to 7pm as is the case on election day).
If you can’t travel to the voting station where you are registered because you are physically infirm, disabled or pregnant, voting officials will visit you on Monday 1 August or Tuesday 2 August at the place where you live (must be within the voting district where you’re registered) and allow you to vote.
