IEC special vote applications close at 17:00 today

Residents who need to register for special voting have until 17:00 today to submit their applications.

Special votes are meant to ensure access for voters who would otherwise be unable to participate in elections on November 4, according to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).

These include home visit special votes for people who cannot present themselves physically at a voting station, as well as voters who are physically able but cannot vote at their voting station on voting day, such as essential service workers and media workers.

There are two broad categories of special votes:

Home visit special votes

The first category is home visit special votes for people unable to travel to a voting station owing to physical condition, disability or pregnancy. Voters in this category, if approved, will be visited at their place of confinement within the voting district where they are registered.

Voting station special votes

The second category applies to voters who can travel physically but cannot vote at their voting station on election day. If approved, these voters will cast their ballots at their registered voting station on the two days preceding election day.

The IEC advises voters who may be away from their voting districts on November 4 to apply before the deadline.

By law, a voter can apply for a special vote if they:

• Cannot travel to their voting station because they are physically infirm, disabled or pregnant

• Cannot vote at their voting station on election day

How to apply

• Applications can be made through the following channels:

• Online via the IEC website

• By SMSing an ID number to 32249 (R1 per SMS for voting station special votes only)

• By visiting a local IEC office (excluding national or provincial offices) to submit a Special Vote Application form

• Forms must be hand-delivered. Emails and faxes will not be accepted, although another person may deliver a completed form on the applicant’s behalf.

• Voters cast their special vote at the voting station where they are registered. In cases where a home visit is approved, the vote takes place at the voter’s registered address within the voting district.

Voting procedure

Successful applicants vote as follows:

• An official marks the voter’s thumbnail with indelible ink

• The voter receives the relevant ballot papers

• The voter marks the ballots in secret, then seals them inside an unmarked envelope

• The unmarked envelope is placed inside a second envelope marked with the voter’s name, ID number and voting district number to ensure secrecy

• IEC officials place the envelope into a secure ballot box for special votes

• Officials mark the voter’s name off the Voters’ Roll with ‘SV’ to indicate a special vote has been cast