POLITICAL NEWS - If you are a registered voter, but can't travel to your voting station because of a disability or pregnancy, or if you can't vote at your voting station on election day, 1 November, you can apply for a special vote.
In the case of a pregnancy or disability, a person may apply to vote at their residence.
Those who will be on duty on election day, such as police officers, nurses, doctors and members of the media, are encouraged to apply for special votes.
A special vote allows you to cast your vote within the voting district where you are registered before election day, on either 30 or 31 October.
The applications for special votes opened on Monday 20 September and will close this coming Monday, 4 October, at 17:00. On the day of special votes, approved voters must present either a green bar-coded identity book (ID), a smart identity card or a valid temporary identity certificate.
How do I apply?
Persons can apply in one of three ways:
- Visit https:/www.elections.org.za/pw/OnlineForms/Special-Vote-Online-Application to complete your application online.
- Send your ID number via SMS to 32249 and complete your application for a special vote on your phone (only for voting at a voting station);
- Complete your application manually. You can download the MEC35 form at www.elections.org.za or collect an application form from your local Electoral Commission office. The form needs to be hand-delivered to your local Electoral Commission office (by yourself or someone else).
Once the Electoral Commission has received and considered a special vote application, a voter will be notified by SMS about the status of their special vote application.
To check this status, send your ID number by SMS to 32711, or visit www.elections.org.za.
'We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news'
