The Electoral Commission has issued a warning that disrupting an election is a criminal offence. The Independent Electoral Commission was briefing the media at the Results Operation Centre in Pretoria on its readiness for Wednesday’s general elections.
It says the special voting has enabled it to iron out teething challenges ahead of the big day on Wednesday.
Chief Executive Officer Sy Mamabolo says indications are that “it went well with the two days of special voting.”
He has warned again people not to disrupt the elections. “Citizens are reminded that any disrupting of an election is a criminal offence, tomorrow (Wednesday) is about voters to exercise their choices.”
Complaints from special voters
The Electoral Commission says it is investigating various complaints from special voters at polling stations across the country.
Mamabolo says the most important issue was allegations that ballot papers were not stamped at the back before voters cast their votes.
If ballot papers are not stamped at the back, those votes will not be recognised as legitimate.
Mamabolo says the national party liaison committee met with the IEC to discuss a solution to all votes already cast without the stamp at the back of the ballot paper.
“These incidents were discussed in the national party liaison committee this morning which has made some recommendations to the commission, including that the commission accept the legitimacy of these ballots if verified. The commission will ultimately make a decision on whether these ballots are included in the count or not.”
