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- Voters will be required to mark one X on each of the three colour-coded ballots: blue for national, orange for regional, and pink for provincial.
- Make sure you go to your unique voting station or you might not be able to cast your vote on the regional and provincial ballots.
- This is all you need to know about what to do on election day, 29 May.
On 29 May, you will need to make three Xes – one X per ballot sheet.
To emphasise the point: one ballot, one X.
Anything more and it will be a spoilt ballot. Less is fine if that's what you want.
The ballots are colour-coded and distinctly marked: blue, orange and pink.
- Blue for the national ballot — you will vote for 200 of the 400 seats in the National Assembly. Only political parties will be featured on this ballot. This is the same sheet throughout the country.
- Orange for the regional ballot — on this sheet you will vote for the remaining 200 seats in the National Assembly. Political parties and independents will be represented on this ballot, which is unique to each province.
- Pink for the provincial ballot — you will vote for the 487 seats in the provincial legislatures. Political parties and independents will be represented on this ballot, which is also unique to each province.
The right voting station is important
Due to the changes in the Electoral Amendment Act recently, independents will contest the national and provincial elections for the first time. This new law change necessitated three ballot sheets. There were only two previously.
Another big change from previous elections is that you cannot vote at a voting station you are not registered at – even in the same province. Make sure you check which voting station you are registered at. You can do that here. Just enter your ID number.
READ | Vote at your own station
If you know you will be travelling away from your voting station on 29 May, you can apply to vote elsewhere. This is known as a Section 24A notification. You can apply for one here. It's a simple four-step process.
The deadline for notifying the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) of voting elsewhere is 17 May.
If you rock up at a different voting station and did not apply for the Section 24A notification, you will ONLY be given the national ballot sheet (blue).
Remember, one X per ballot sheet.
What to do on election day
On voting day, you will walk into your designated voting station with your ID or temporary identification between 07:00 and 21:00.
Your first stop will be at the voter's roll table, where an official will check your ID number against the voter's roll. Once your name and ID is verified, and it is confirmed you can vote at that station, you will be directed to the inker – where the cuticle of your thumb will be marked with indelible ink.
Your next step is the ballot issuer, where you will be given the three ballots. Remember, one X per ballot.
If you are voting at a station that is not your registered voting station, you will be issued only the national ballot.
??Remember, for #SAelections24, you'll be voting on three ballots if you're in your registered province. Familiarise yourself with the ballots, and remember—one ballot, one mark. Be sure to vote where you're registered! #KnowYourBallots
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) April 24, 2024
Find out more: https://t.co/o8YH920j1F pic.twitter.com/Z2hJxBZ5zw
You will take your three ballots to a voting compartment. In this private area, you will be able to make your mark on each ballot. Remember, one X per ballot only.
Once you have made your mark on the ballot sheets, you will be directed to three clearly marked boxes. You will place each ballot into the corresponding ballot box – one for national (blue ballot); one for regional (orange ballot); one for provincial (pink ballot).
You will then walk out of the voting station.
Your vote will have been cast, and your democratic voice will be counted after the voting station closes.
