The excitement brought on by the decision to vote for a party to represent you for five years soon turns to anticipation after election day.
As voters wait to find out the poll results, the Electoral Commission (IEC) will be busy counting and consolidating the results to inform the public on how their preferred party have fared.
Institute of Election Management Services in Africa (IEMSA) Chair, Terry Tselane says by law, the electoral commission cannot release the election results until two days have lapsed after election day.
“In law, the commission cannot announce the results of the election within 48 hours. The commission is given 48 hours to be able to deal with objections (Section 55 objections). Then after that, when 48 hours have expired, it is only then that the results of an election can be announced.”
Though results will start trickling in a couple of hours after the polls close, he says these results are just a lead up to the final results announcement by the IEC.
During that 48 hour period, the IEC will be dealing with objections stemming from the election.
When can voters expect to get the final results?
Tselane says any election results coming in during that period will be regarded as provisional, and the final results are expected to be announced on the weekend following voting day.
In past elections, it has not taken more than four days to release the final results.
If the past elections are anything to go by, South Africans should expect the results announcement by Saturday 11 May or Sunday 12 May 2019.
For more on election results, watch Terry Tselane below:
