South Africa IEC sets deadline for special election votes

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has issued a reminder for registered voters in South Africa to apply for special votes ahead of the local government elections. The deadline for applications is 17:00 on Monday, 12 October. Special voting is scheduled to take place on 2 and 3 November.

There are two categories of special voting available. The first allows any registered voter who cannot attend on election day to cast their ballot early at their voting station. The second category is specifically for voters who are physically unable to travel to a voting station due to infirmity or disability; in these instances, the IEC may conduct home visits within the voter's registered district.

Applications can be submitted online or via SMS by sending an ID number to 32249. Western Cape Provincial Electoral Officer Michael Hendrickse noted that the process is straightforward, though he warned that falsely claiming a disability to qualify for a home visit could constitute a criminal offense. Garden Route District Mayor Marais Kruger encouraged eligible residents to utilize this option to help reduce pressure and queue times on the official election day.