Special votes: Update
The Local Government Elections got under way yesterday (Monday) with the first of two special voting days which end today. Voting was slow at most of the voting stations in Ngwathe. People whose special vote applications were approved but did not visit their voting station yesterday are urged to do so today between 08.00 and 17.00. Home visits will continue from most stations, including the Parys Library, where fewer than half of the 157 voters granted special home visits cast their ballots yesterday.
The Local Government Elections got under way yesterday (Monday) with the first of two special voting days which end today.
Voting was slow at most of the voting stations in Ngwathe. People whose special vote applications were approved but did not visit their voting station yesterday are urged to do so today between 08.00 and 17.00. Home visits will continue from most stations, including the Parys Library, where fewer than half of the 157 voters granted special home visits cast their ballots yesterday.
“Residents of three of the four large retirement centres in Parys – Sally Martin Park, Najaarsrus and A.M.O.T. – are registered at the Library, says Cllr Shirley Vermaak, “As so many voters are registered there, the Independent Electoral Commission has made the Library a voting centre for this election. This means that it will be divided into two sub-stations, with half the voters casting their ballots in one sub-station and half in another tomorrow.
Cllr Saal de Jager, whose Ward 13 now becomes Ward 12, said that because the Library – being a voting centre – received so many applications for home visits, two teams from the Independent Electoral College (IEC) should have been dealing with these visits. Sally Martin Park and some private houses still have to be visited today.
Tomorrow – Election Day – voting stations will open at 07.00 and remain open until 19.00. Voters will be given three ballot papers. One is for the ward councillor, one for the District Council (in this case Fezile Dabi) and one for the political party of their choice. They must vote where they are registered. To find out where you are registered, SMS your ID number to 32810. Remember to take your ID book, temporary ID or Smart Card when you go to vote.
In Parys, in addition to the Library, the voting stations are at the Town Hall, NGK-Wes Hall, Rotary Club and Parys Hospital Tent. Some residents living south of Third Avenue have been re-registered at the Schonkenville Hall. Vredefort residents will vote at the Vredefort Town Hall. Six political parties will be contesting most of the 18 wards, with one Independent candidate in Ward 7.
