The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has extended voting hours for South Africans living abroad to ensure all have their say in the upcoming election.
The decision to extend voting hours in four foreign missions is in response to a request by the South African Jewish Board of Deputies. At the same time, special arrangements have also been made for Muslim voters, who expect to start the holy month of Ramadan around election day. Kamogelo Theledi from Voice of Wits reports. Listen to her package:
If you are likely to find yourself away from home on May 8t, you have two weeks to apply to cast a special vote in the 2019 elections.
According to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) “a special
vote allows a registered voter who can’t cast their vote at their voting
station on Election Day to apply to vote on a predetermined day before Election
Day.”
In a statement released on April 4, the IEC said the window period for
applications by voters to cast special votes in this year’s election has
officially opened and is set to close by the 18 April 2019
Voters eligible to cast a special vote as they will be away from their voting
stations include police, public servants, emergency medical service workers and
journalists.
A second kind of special vote is available to voters who are unable to
reach a voting station due to physical frailty, disability or pregnancy.
Special votes will be cast on the two days before May 8, the IEC said.
