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Do You Qualify to Cast a Special Vote?

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A special vote allows a registered voter, who can’t vote at their voting station on election day, to apply to vote on a predetermined day before election day in May 2011.

To apply for a special vote, you must:

  • be registered in South Africa as a voter
  • have a green, bar-coded ID book or a valid temporary identity certificate and
  • be on the Voters’ Roll.

By law, you can apply for a special vote if you:

  • can’t travel to your voting station because you are physically infirm or disabled or
  • can’t vote at your voting station on election day because you’re out of town

How does one apply?

Go to www.elections.org.za. Download and complete Appendix 25, the application for special vote.

Between 15 April and 3 May (5pm), submit the application form in person, (or via a proxy if you’re unable to travel), at the Municipal Electoral Office responsible for your voting district during office hours

Please note: Application forms must be submitted by hand at the Municipal Electoral Office – they can’t be submitted online or via email or fax. You’ll be given a written decision on your application.

Please keep this document as proof of your application outcome.

Where and when does a voter cast a special vote?

If you can’t travel to your voting station because you are physically infirm or disabled, voting officials will visit you on 16 or 17 May at the place where you’re living and allow you to vote.

To qualify, you must be registered to vote in the voting district where you’ve requested the home visit.

NB: While the IEC will make every effort to attend to every application, if there are too many, they may not finish all home visits.
If you can travel but can’t vote at your voting station on election day, you will vote at your voting station on 16 May.

What happens when a special vote is cast?

  • Your thumbnail is marked with indelible ink.
  • Your ID book is stamped.
  • You receive the relevant ballot paper(s).
  • You mark the ballot(s) in secret, place and seal the ballot(s) in an unmarked envelope.
  • The unmarked envelope is placed in another envelope that is marked with your name, ID number and voting district (VD) number. The use of two envelopes is to ensure the secrecy of your ballot (the outer envelope is discarded before counting).
  • IEC officials take the envelope and place it in a secure ballot box for special votes.
  • Your name is marked off the Voters’ Roll with “SV” to indicate that you have cast a special vote.

Remember, EVERY vote counts – if you vote, we all win !

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Ward 2

Councillor Dean Biddulph (Democratic Alliance) Ward 2: Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality Tel: 041 582 2015 / 082 559 6158 Fax: 041 585 1364 E-Mail: ward2[at]mandelametro.gov.za "Men make history, and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better." Harry S. Truman Ward 2 covers the following areas: 11 Ave Summerstrand, Avondale Rd up to Western Rd Central, Foresthill, Humewood, Uppervalley.