AS the country gears up for the 2024 elections in May, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced that the voter roll has now closed.
This means that eligible voters who haven’t registered to vote or need to fix their addresses won't be able to do so, whether online or at a local office.
The commission released a timetable of the activities leading to the election date, which was proclaimed by President Cyril Ramaphosa last week.
Briefing the media on Monday, 26 February, IEC chief electoral commissioner Sy Mamabolo said voter verifications and other validations are underway to ensure compliance with the provisions of the law in respect of eligibility to vote.
He said the 2024 timetable published on Saturday, 24 February, outlines all the key cut-off times and dates for the performance of salient electoral activities.
“The timetable contains crucial performance dates for election contestants as well as the broad voting public. As regards the voting public, the focal point is accessing the voting process through special arrangements, including dates for applications for special votes and notifications to vote outside of voting stations of registration,” he said.
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Mamabolo said as it pertains to contestants, the timetable is equally crucial in that it contains dates to be complied with relating to the nomination of candidates and the payment of prescribed deposits.
Some of the activities include dispensation for voters in special circumstances, such as those voting out of the country.
“Those who are infirm and confined and thus unable to reach voting stations must apply to be visited for a special vote at home. On the other hand, those who will not be in their voting districts on 29 May 2024 may apply for a special vote to cast ballots ahead of election day. Both home visits and voting station-based special votes will happen on two days, the 27th and 28th of May 2024. The applications for special votes will close on 3 May 2024.”
“Those who intend to vote outside of the country and who are registered on a specific country’s segment of the voters’ roll don't have to give notice to the CEO that they will be voting in that country. The law assumes that they'll be voting at the diplomatic mission of registration,” he said.
