The Electoral Commission upon enquiry from Parys Gazette in an official statement today, Monday April 29, said it distances itself from a widely circulated message claiming that it has granted permission for everyone over the age of 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, has been confirmed.

The message was seen on various WhatsApp groups, also in Parys, over the weekend.

Deadline for special votes

The Electoral Commission also reminded voters that the deadline for applications for special votes in this year’s National and Provincial Elections is closing this Friday, 3 May 2024. All applications for special votes, for the purposes of home visits and voting station visits, opened on April 15 and will close on May 3.

Home visits are intended for those voters who are unable to travel to voting stations, while special votes at voting stations are for everyone who is unable to be at the voting station on Election Day. Special voting will be conducted on the two days preceding Election Day, on May 27 and 28, from 09:00 to 17:00.

Voters can apply as follows:

• Using the IEC’s secured online application at www.elections.org.za

• By SMSing your identity number to 32249 (R1.00 per SMS) for voting station visit only.
• By visiting your local IEC office and submitting an Appendix 1B form for a voting station special vote.
• By visiting your local IEC office and submitting an Appendix 1A form for a home visit special vote. Forms can also be hand-delivered, and someone else can deliver a form on behalf of a voter.

The Electoral Commission re-emphasised the general principle of election administration that voters must vote where they are registered. However, in the event a voter intends to be in a different voting district on voting day, such a voter must notify the commission of their intended absence from their voting district and must identify the voting station where they wish to cast the vote. Known as Section 24A notices, these are live at www.elections.org.za. Notifications in this regard will close on May 17.

Check special vote application status 
Visit the IEC website. On the home page, click the ‘I want to’ Tab and then click ‘Check the status of special vote application’. From there, you will be directed to the special vote status check. You will need to select the election you’re applying for and enter your ID number. You will then be redirected to a page that will display the status of your special vote application. You can also call the IEC call centre on 0800 11 8000 and follow the prompts to get information about your special vote application status.

Check your registration status
SMS your ID number to 32810 (R1 per SMS) or go to www.elections.org.za and click on check my registration status.

What is different in this year’s general election
* You vote where you are registered
* Three ballot papers (National, Provincial and Regional) vs the usual two ballot papers
* Independent candidates are allowed to contest.