Pretoria - Day two of the special votes kicked off across the country this morning.
Voting hours are set at between 8am and 5pm.
Tuesday is the last day for the special votes ahead of Wednesday’s polls for the 2016 Local Government Elections.
On Monday, Electoral Commission (IEC) officials visited facilities for the elderly, hospitals and the homes of those who aren’t able to make their way to voting stations on Wednesday.
Selected voting stations have opened to enable those who applied for special votes to cast their ballots. Delays were reported at some voting stations on the first day due to factors including the delivery of incorrect ballot papers, community protests and bad weather.
The IEC has approved a record 719 222 applications for special votes, which include 315 597 (44%) home visits and 403 625 (56%) votes to be cast at voting stations.
Special voting in Vuwani
Special voting will also take place in the Vuwani area, in Limpopo today.
The IEC took a decision not to open voting stations on Monday due to the low number of residents who had applied for special votes. Only about 32 people registered for special voting in 14 wards. The IEC said on Monday it was confident special voting in the Vuwani area would be concluded within two hours today.
The Vuwani area has experienced protests over demarcation matters.
Elections will be a success
With only one day left until millions of South Africans cast their vote, the IEC is confident and pleased with the efforts put into making this year’s elections a success.
This year’s Local Government Elections are poised to be the largest ever with over 200 political parties and over 61 000 candidates participating.
Over 26.3 million people have register to vote across 22 612 voting stations.
President Jacob Zuma has urged all registered voters, especially the youth, to go out and cast their ballots on Wednesday.
“We urge all 26 million registered voters across the length and breadth of our country to speak, give direction and refresh the mandate of the third sphere of government through voting on 3 August 2016.
“All registered voters must celebrate democracy and freedom by turning out to vote,” President Zuma said on Monday. - SAnews.gov.za
