More than 2.6 million South Africans began casting special votes on Monday ahead of the country’s local government elections on Wednesday as electoral authorities rolled out a two-day process designed to accommodate voters unable to cast ballots on election day.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said 2,655,067 registered voters had been approved for special voting, which takes place on Monday and Tuesday before South Africans head to the polls on 4 November to elect councils that will govern municipalities for the next five years.
IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo said 678,525 of the approved special voters will vote from their homes through commission-arranged visits because of physical infirmity or disability.
A further 1,976,542 voters have been authorised to cast their ballots at their registered voting stations before the main election day.
Special voting is intended to ensure that citizens who are unable to reach polling stations on election day or who will be away from their voting districts are still able to participate in the electoral process.
The local government elections are a key feature of South Africa’s democratic system, determining political control of metropolitan, district and local municipalities responsible for delivering basic services such as water, sanitation, refuse collection, local roads and community infrastructure.
Unlike national and provincial elections, which determine representation in parliament and provincial legislatures, local government elections focus on the governance of municipalities and the selection of councillors who oversee service delivery and local development.
Voting stations across South Africa are scheduled to open on Wednesday for the main poll, following the conclusion of the special voting process on Tuesday.
JN/APA