Voters who make a mistake on their ballot paper can ask election officials for a new one to ensure their vote counts.

Remember

• Stop! Don’t put your ballot inside, because you can’t take it out or replace it once it’s in the ballot box.
• Speak up: Go to the presiding officer or election official inside the voting station.
• Replace: The presiding officer will cancel your ruined ballot paper and issue you a new one so you can try again.

How voting works

• On election day, go to the voting station at which you’re registered.
• Show your green, bar-coded, South African ID book, Smart ID card or a temporary identification certificate to the voting officer.
• The voting officer checks that your name appears on the voters’ roll.
• Once the voting officer is satisfied that you have the correct ID, are a registered voter and have not already voted, your name is marked off the roll, your ID book is stamped on the second page, and your thumbnail is inked.
• The voting officer stamps the back of the correct number of official ballot papers (one per election) and gives them to you.
• Take your ballot paper/s to an empty ballot booth, mark the ballot paper, fold it so that your choice isn’t visible and place the ballot paper in the ballot box
• Remember that you can only vote once in each election.

ALSO CHECK: There’s still time to register for special votes applications for 2026 Local Government Elections

ALSO CHECK: VOX POP: Springs residents share their views on voting for the upcoming elections