Special votes day 2: IEC warns voters against photographing marked ballots, hopes for smooth process - IOL

Special voting enters its second day on Tuesday, with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) continuing its efforts to ensure eligible voters who cannot visit polling stations on election day have an opportunity to cast their ballots.

Special voting enters its second day with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) under pressure to ensure a smoother process after ballot delivery delays disrupted voting at 217 polling stations in Cape Town on Monday.

Despite the setbacks in the Western Cape, the IEC reported that 780,000 people had successfully cast special votes at polling stations nationwide.

All polling stations are expected to open at 8am on Tuesday, following confirmation that outstanding ballots were delivered across the Cape Town metropolitan area by the end of Monday's voting period.

The disruption left many elderly voters frustrated as they waited for ballot papers to reach their wards.

Voting hours were subsequently extended until 6pm to accommodate affected voters.

IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo apologised to those inconvenienced, rejecting suggestions that the delays were politically motivated.

“Does it mean we have taken a political machination to disenfranchise people in the City of Cape Town? Certainly not,” he said.

He attributed the disruption to the compressed production schedule, describing it as “a consequence of a pressurised process for the development of the ballot paper”.

As voting continues, Mamabolo has urged citizens to respect electoral rules, particularly the secrecy of the ballot.

Voters are prohibited from photographing marked ballot papers inside voting stations and must use designated voting compartments to make their choices privately.

The commission has also warned against campaigning, canvassing, intimidation or any attempt to influence voters inside polling stations.