With the 2021 Local Government Elections two days away, we asked elections expert, Institute of Election Management Services in Africa (IEMSA) chair Terry Tselane some voting-related questions to help first-time voters get “the grip” of the polling process.
Tselane says no one should influence someone else through intimidation or force to vote for a certain party or candidate.
Tselane says, “A voter would need to report that individual to officials of the IEC, no one is allowed to intimidate voters, no one is allowed to interfere with the voter’s right to choose whatever political party they want to choose.”
He also cautioned voters not to take photos of their ballot papers after voting.
He says, “A voter must make sure they do not capture the details of how they have voted. A voter cannot go into a voting station with a cellphone and capture a ballot paper details after they have cast a vote.”
Tselane strongly advises against having a cellphone at the voting station as the temptation of taking a photo of a ballot paper with the voter’s choice can leave the voter compromised.
He goes on to answer crucial questions like “What happens if I make a mistake on my ballot paper?”
Tselane’s full interview below:
