Elections expert Terry Tselane answers some voter questions ahead of the 2019 National and Provincial elections.
Asked about what the voter should avoid when casting a vote on a ballot paper, he advised voters not to spoil their ballot paper. “Do not ruin your ballot paper, mark only in the appropriate section.”
He has urged the voter to make sure that their ballot paper is stamped, as this will prove that it is a valid ballot. “Make sure that your ballot paper has got a stamp, because a ballot paper that does not have a stamp is not a valid ballot paper.”
If a voter makes a mistake, they are allowed to ask for another paper. The presiding officer will then record the spoilt paper and issue the voter with another, provided that they have not deposited the ballot paper with the mistake in the designated ballot box.
Tselane is currently serving as executive director of the Institute of Election Management Services in Africa (IEMSA).
His experience in elections spans over two decades, including having worked for the Electoral Commission (IEC) as Vice Chairman.
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