South Africans are voting in the Local Government Elections on Monday, 1 November.
Over 23 000 polling stations are set to open at 7 am and they are expected to operate until 9pm.
Rise and shine Mzansi! It’s Election Day!?️
Our democracy needs all of us. Turn up and put an X for your community.Remember to vote at the voting station where you’re registered between 7am to 9pm. #EveryVoiceTogether #LGE2021 pic.twitter.com/q3MZgb8wTj
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) November 1, 2021
Over 80% of special votes were cast throughout the country over the weekend. More than 26-million South Africans have registered to vote.
Pensioners are the only people quieng as early as five in the morning at Avhatondwi primary voting station in Vuwani at Vye-boom village in Limpopo.the area is under ward nine of Collins Chabane local Municipality #LGE2021 pic.twitter.com/eXrkv1ptFU
— rudzani tshivhase (@RTshivhase) November 1, 2021
Safety measures
IEC Chairperson, Glen Mashinini says it is the priority of the Commission to conduct safe elections in the context of the pandemic.
“Electoral staff will be provided with the necessary personal protective equipment to minimise the risk of spreading of the virus. The following acceptable methods to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will be enforced. Among them is maintaining social distancing by observing distance of at least a meter & a half away from each other or the next person and sanitising frequently,” says Mashinini.
Mashinini says though the IEC will provide pens, they encourage voters to bring their own.
“The pens will be provided and disinfected after each use. However, voters are encouraged; should they wish to do so, they should bring their own pens,” says Mashinini.
Every vote counts
Mashinini said voters who will be on the voting queue at the voting station will be allowed to vote even after 21h00.
This comes amid concerns that the voter turnout for the local government elections may be negatively affected by various factors such as long-weekend; reports of inclement weather in some parts of the country; prevailing voter apathy and disgruntlement; as well as possible fear of COVID-19 infection.
Local government elections have had lower turnout in the past two elections. In 2016 the voter turnout was 58% while in 2011 it was 57.6%.
Voters are also urged to travel back to their registered wards so that they may arrive in time before voting stations close at 21h00.
-Additional reporting by Velemseni Mthiyane
