60-plussers – Your handy guide and all you need to know about voting in the SA General Election on Wednesday 29th May 2024, compiled with the assistance of the DA (Democratic Alliance).
Frequently asked questions by SA seniors
When will voting stations open and close on Election Day – Wednesday 29th May 2024
Voting stations will open 07h00 and will close at 19h00. If you are in the line to vote at 19h00, you must be allowed to vote.
What do I need to bring along with me in order to be able to vote?
You must bring your ID book or temporary ID or smart ID card. You do NOT need proof of residence.
Is there assistance for people with disabilities?
The Electoral Commission (IEC), together with the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB), has developed a voting aid, the Universal Ballot Template (UBT), to assist persons with disabilities and special needs to have an independent and secret vote during elections.
The UBT can be used by:
- Blind and partially-sighted people
- Low-vision users
- People who are dyslexic
- The elderly
- People with low literacy
- People with motor and nervous conditions which do not allow for a steady hand
To find out more about the UBT, you can download the fact sheet here.
https://www.elections.org.za/content/uploadedfiles/Universal%20Ballot%20Template.pdf
Unable to stand for long in a queue
If you are unable to stand in a queue at the voting station, please indicate this to one of the IEC officials, who we trust will usher the elderly to the front of the queues at the polling stations. Hopefully, the IEC will provide chairs in the queue for South African seniors.
Can I vote if I will be in another town or province on election day?
You need to vote at the voting station where you’re registered to vote. By law, all South African residents must register to vote where they reside and vote where they are registered. However, in terms of the new Electoral Amendment Act, Section 24A, a voter may vote outside of their voting district, but ONLY if they notified the Electoral Commission (IEC) in advance during the timeframe specified in the Election Timetable, that is, by Friday, 17 May 2024, 23:59, indicating at which voting district they intend to vote.
You can learn more about and notify the IEC at the following link – https://www.elections.org.za/pw/section-24a/about-section-24a
Please remember that you must be a registered voter in South Africa in order to vote. To confirm that your name is on the voters’ roll and to find out which voting station you’re registered at, please check your voter registration status online or SMS your ID number to 32810. To locate your voting station on a map, please see our online voting station finder.
Can I vote if I’ve lost my registration sticker?
You will be allowed to vote as long as your name is on the voters’ roll. If your name isn’t on the voters’ roll and you don’t have your registration sticker, you have no proof that you’ve registered and you won’t be able to vote. Please check your voter registration status online to make sure your name is on the voters’ roll.
Can I vote if my new ID book has not arrived yet?
Yes, you can vote if you have a Temporary Identity Certificate (TIC) that is valid on Election Day. You can apply for a TIC at the Department of Home Affairs. Please remember, you will only be able to vote if you are a registered voter.
Can I vote on behalf of someone who is unable to get to their voting station?
No, every voter must vote in person at the voting station.
Can permanent residents vote in the elections?
No, only South African citizens with a green, bar-coded ID book can vote in elections.
How does the IEC ensure security and non-intimidation at voting stations?
There are police and/or army personnel at every voting station to ensure your safety.
I am blind. Can someone help me at the voting station?
You can take anyone who is at least 18 years old and not a party agent with you to the voting station to help you cast your vote. You can also ask the presiding officer at the voting station to help you and/or provide you with a voting aid known as a universal ballot template (UBT). See below.
How do I know if I’m registered?
Please check your voter registration status on line to find out if you’re registered.
I registered for a previous election, do I have to register again?
No, you only have to re-register if your address, personal details or voting district has changed. Please check your voter registration status online to see your registration details.
Can I vote at my nearest voting station?
You need to vote at the voting station where you’re registered to vote. By law, all South African residents must register to vote where they reside, and vote where they are registered. However, in terms of the new Electoral Amendment Act, Section 24A, a voter may vote outside of their voting district, but ONLY if they notified the Electoral Commission (IEC) in advance during the timeframe specified in the Election Timetable, that is, by Friday, 17 May 2024, 23:59, indicating at which voting district they intend to vote.
You can learn more about and notify the IEC at the following link – https://www.elections.org.za/pw/section-24a/about-section-24a
How do I know if my voting station has changed?
We try to communicate any changes to you, but please check your voter registration status online before each election to confirm that your voting station hasn’t changed.
Please remember that you must be a registered voter in South Africa in order to vote. To confirm that your name is on the voters’ roll and to find out which voting station you’re registered at, please check your voter registration status online or SMS your ID number to 32810. To locate your voting station on a map, please see our online voting station finder.
Can I vote if I’m bedridden and unable to go to my voting station on Election Day?
If you’re confined to your bed and can’t get to your voting station on Election Day for National and Provincial elections, you could have applied for a special vote. Unfortunately, it is now too late as the special vote application closed at midnight on Friday 3 May.
Can I vote if I’m in hospital?
If you’re bedridden or in hospital and can’t get to your voting station on Election Day for National and Provincial elections, you could have applied for a special vote. Unfortunately, it is now too late as the special vote application closed at midnight on Friday 3 May.
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Please note the following:
The IEC has cautioned the public against misinformation circulating on social media after a message encouraged voters older than 60 to apply to vote early.
https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/people-over-60-should-not-apply-to-vote-early-unless-they-qualify-for-a-special-vote-20240429
