Record 2.6 million special votes approved ahead of elections

With just three weeks to go before South Africans head to the polls, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has approved a record 2.65 million special vote applications,  a 131% increase from the previous local government elections in 2021.

IEC Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, revealed the figures during a briefing on Wednesday as the commission ramps up preparations for the 4 November elections.

The special vote application period opened on 21 September and closed on 12 October. Of the approved applications, more than 678,000 are for home visits for voters whose physical condition or disability prevents them from travelling to voting stations. KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of approved home visits, at 143,714.

A further 1.97 million applications were approved for voting station-based special votes, representing a 227.9% increase compared with the 2021 elections. Gauteng recorded the highest number in this category, with 391,589 approvals.

The IEC says 2.42 million applications were submitted online, while 171,214 were submitted manually at its offices. The commission said the processing of manual applications was being finalised, with completion targeted for Friday.

Gauteng leads the country in total approved special votes, with 480,721, followed by the Eastern Cape with 401,971. KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo also recorded high numbers of approved applications.

Special voting will take place on 2 and 3 November, ahead of Election Day.

Meanwhile, the IEC says production of the 79 million ballot papers required for the elections is more than 66% complete, with printing expected to conclude by Sunday. 

The Freedom Front Plus will lead the ballot paper following a draw last month to determine the order of parties and candidates.

More than 29 million registered voters are expected to participate in the local government elections, with 136,790 candidates contesting positions across the country.

Mamabolo has urged voters to verify their registration details before polling day, reminding them that they may only cast their votes at the voting station where they are registered. 

While the commission continues preparations for the elections, its faces a potential challenge as the Constitutional Court considers the African National Congress’s (ANC’s) legal bid to have 181 candidates included on the ballot after the party missed the 28 August deadline.

Mamabolo says the IEC will respect the court’s decision and implement any ruling accordingly.

“At this stage, the commission is not contemplating any change in dates or something of that sort. We are working with the fourth, and we will work with whatever decision the court makes,” he said.

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