National election guide: What to expect, and making sense of the new regional ballot

The national elections are well underway, with an estimated 76 000 overseas voters already having made their mark last weekend.

But most people back here in South Africa will need to wait until next Wednesday, May 29, for their chance, so it might be useful to know what to expect.

It is a stacked race this year too, with some 52 parties vying for your vote on the national ballot alone.

And when there is not only an ANC or DA, but also an ABC, AHC, AIC, AMC and APC in the mix, things can start to get a little bit confusing.

To help you stay focused on putting an X next to the party you intend to vote for, we compiled a guide on what you can expect when getting to your voting station – and in the booth – this year.

What to expect on voting day

When you arrive at the station at which you are registered, an Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) volunteer will meet you to verify you have the correct documentation.

You can only use a green book ID, smart card ID or temporary ID. No driver’s licence, passport or other form of identification will be accepted.

Inside the station, another volunteer will check your name against the voter’s roll and hand you three ballot sheets – one for the national election, one for the provincial and a new regional ballot.

The national election is for seats in the National Assembly (Parliament) which also ultimately decides the presidency, while the provincial ballot decides seats in the provincial legislature.

The new regional ballot – a first for South Africa following a law change – is for independents who are running for a regionally allocated seat in Parliament.

• National Ballot: All the parties running in the national election. It will be the same ballot seen by all voters countrywide. Decides 200 of the 400 seats in the National Assembly.
• Provincial Ballot: All the parties and independents running for seats in the provincial legislature. Each province will have their own list of candidates.
• Regional Ballot: All the parties and independents running for 200 regionally allocated seats in the National Assembly. Each province will have their own list of candidates.

Once you have cast your votes, your thumb will be marked with ink to ensure that you are unable to vote again.

The results have typically been released after three days, but that might be longer this year with the extra ballot.

Do you know where you are registered?

The IEC has reaffirmed their stance that you will only be able to vote at the station at which you are registered this year.

You can only vote at a station that is different from your registration if you pre-notified the IEC. The deadline for that notification passed on May 17.

It is crucial that you check exactly which station will be expecting you, as some wards have multiple voting stations in order to handle their respective population size.

To find out which one will be expecting your vote, visit elections.org.za/pw/Voter/Voter-Information or SMS your ID number to 32810 at a cost of R1.

KwaDukuza has 88 voting stations across its 30 wards, with two apiece in Ward 22 (Sizani Combined School, Salt Rock Library), Ward 30 (Townsend Hall, Compensation Trading Store) and just the one for Ward 6 at Ballito Library.

Voter safety

Police in iLembe are on high alert and have outlined plans to deal with any situation that may arise at voting stations across the district.

“Saps in iLembe District want to assure the public that they are committed to upholding the law and protecting the integrity of the electoral process,” said district commissioner, Major General Anthony Gopaul.

“We are committed to delivering a peaceful and credible election, and we are working closely with community policing forums to ensure that community disputes are addressed promptly and effectively.”

He said the district police had held extensive planning sessions with the IEC, all relevant station commanders, external stakeholders and local law enforcement agencies.

There will be a joint operations centre set up at the Saps district office in KwaDukuza from where policing on the day will be co-ordinated.

“Plans are designed to anticipate and respond to potential threats, and to provide a safe environment for all citizens within iLembe,” said Gopaul.

“Our security plan includes prevention and response to violence and intimidation, ensuring the safety of election officials, candidates and voters and protecting polling stations and election materials, while maintaining order and calm in areas where tensions may be high.”

Gopaul urged all voters to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the police.

Tips for the day

There is all sorts of varying conventional wisdom as to which is the fastest time of day to vote, much like where and when is best to renew your passport.

But the truth of the matter is that there is no secret formula and you will just need to hope everyone else has picked a different time to you.

The likelihood is that you will face queues of anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours, so come prepared.

Dress comfortably. It is a day of civic duty, not for fashion!

If it is a sunny (or rainy) day, an umbrella can be useful because you will not always be under cover depending on the station.

Water and snacks are also helpful for longer waits too, as are charged devices and books.

Most importantly, familiarise yourself with the logo of your party and take your time in the booth to make sure your vote is representative of your will.

Whatever your feelings on the elections are, watershed moment or not, they represent decades of struggle for your democratic right to vote for the party that best represents your interests.

Make it count.

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