Pta voting stations ‘sorted out’
The IEC says all voting stations affected by delays in Pretoria were dealt with on Tuesday.
Hitches at some Pretoria voting stations early on Wednesday had been sorted out, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said.
“Sunnyside and Akasia are dealt with. We are dealing with all areas that are affected,” IEC chairperson Glen Mashinini told reporters.
He was speaking at the IEC Result Operations Centre in Pretoria West.
Residents of Sunnyside and Akasia earlier reported delays at voting stations as the municipal elections kicked off at 07:00.
Mashinini said problems at voting stations should be reported without delay. They would then immediately be dealt with.
No ballot paper @ Akasia primary school… #ElectionDay
— ado (@adophage) August 3, 2016
If necessary, more staff would deployed at affected stations.
#ivoted thanks to Jubilee Park voting station in Sunnyside, Pta. Process is slow but efficient. pic.twitter.com/o0miPWYwFg
— Nditsheni (@mphomab) August 3, 2016
Mashinini said voting mostly got off to a smooth and timely start. Only a small percentage of voting stations experienced delays.
The IEC received reports of cases where voters had been stopped from entering the voting stations by election staff because they were wearing political party clothing and regalia.
Mashinini said this was not prohibited.
Mashinini said some voters were denied voting due to wearing political regalia. "This is not prohibited but only for political agents."
— Pretoria Rekord (@RekordNewspaper) August 3, 2016
“It is only prohibited for party agents and candidates to wear party clothing inside a voting station. This information is made clear in a ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ poster provided to each voting station.
The IEC urged employers to release their staff members to vote as prohibiting them would be a violation to their human rights.
“It is illegal to prevent voters from exercising their right. All employers, please release your staff to vote. This is why today was made a public holiday.”
Also Read:
Pretorians rush to voting stations
Brisk early voting in Pretoria
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