#IMadeMyMark: Over 60 million national and provincial ballot papers printed and distributed for the elections.
The IEC has recruited and trained over 189 000 volunteers who will conduct the voting and counting.
Election Day on May 8 will be the culmination point of two years’ work in preparing, planning and training.
This is according to chief electoral officer, Sy Mamabolo, who spoke during the official opening of the national resulsts operational center.
Mamabolo said the first votes were cast on Saturday (April 27) at the country’s foreign missions around the world by South African citizens living or working abroad, along with votes cast by members of the South African National Defence Force deployed on peace-keeping and humanitarian aid missions around our continent.
“Initial indications are that a significant number of votes were cast by those who had notified the Electoral Commission of their intention to vote outside of the Republic,” said Mamabolo.
“The cast ballots are now in the process of being securely transported back to South Africa where they will be counted before party representatives. The result of this count will be included in the tally for the national ballot after Election Day.”
He said the second body of special votes will be cast on Monday and Tuesday, May 6 and 7 when election officials conduct home visits for voters who are unable to visit their voting station due to illness, disability or pregnancy – along with voters who are will cast their ballots at their voting stations due to their absence from their voting districts on Election Day.
“Special voting days are a welcome opportunity to pre-test our infrastructure, logistics and human capacity before the remainder of the over 26 million voters descend on our 22 924 voting stations in nine days’ time.”
He said the IEC has made made arrangements for a record 22 924 voting stations to open.
“In conjunction with the various state security agencies including the South African Police Services we have arranged for security at each voting station and of all the critical voting materials.
“We have printed and distributed over 60 million national and provincial ballot papers.
“We have procured and distributed nearly 300 000 ballot boxes and 45 000 voting compartments, along with stationery packs, posters, signs, chairs, tables and security materials.”
Challenges
He said reaching this point of readiness for a general election is never easy and preparing for these elections has certainly tested the Electoral Commission.
“Among the challenges we have faced includes the collection of addresses for voters which has preoccupied the Electoral Commission over the past three years.
“With a modicum of humility, we are pleased to indicate that we now have full addresses for almost 85 per cent of the voters’ roll and hope to further improve this by insisting – consistent with the legal prescript – that any voter without an address must provide one before being furnished a ballot paper.
“A record number of political parties have also presented us with new challenges – including longer ballot papers, more ballot boxes, higher transport and printing costs and more party agents at voting stations.
“This gargantuan increase in the number of parties contesting has also required a slight revision to our traditional layout here at the National Results Centre to accommodate nearly twice the number of political parties than previous elections.
“We have also seen some of the most robust and intense political campaigning for these elections by all political parties. This has certainly kept them – and us – on our toes over the past few months.”
For more news visit our feature online on free and fair elections. Click HERE
