With elections right around the corner, new voters may find themselves feeling extremely nervous and stressed. What do I take with me? Where am I supposed to go? Can I just close my eyes and pick a person at random? What is a politics?!
There is no need to be concerned, though. Voting is much more straightforward than you think.
Before the day
Make use of the voting station finder on the IEC website if you are not sure where you should go to vote (https://maps.elections.org.za/vsfinder/). Most voting stations will be in schools, churches, community centres or even sometimes in adapted vehicles. Make sure you have the correct address for your voting station and be sure to go on time, as stations are open from 07:00 to 21:00.
On the day
Take your identity document, proof of registration (if you registered recently), and a pen (just to be safe) with you. Just be prepared for the fact that queues may be quite long and you may have to stand around for several hours.
Here are some ways to fight the queue blues:
- If even the thought of standing for a really long time already makes your calves cramp, think about taking a camping chair along with you. If you do not mind sitting on the floor, though, maybe just leave the white pants or miniskirts for another day.
- Bring a book, magazine or some airpods with you and ensure your phone is fully charged.
- If you are more extroverted, feel free to strike up a conversation with the people around you to pass the time.
- Take a drink and some snacks with you as some line-standing sustenance. Hey, you can even bring a flask with you if you feel like putting the “party” in party politics. Just make sure you can still stand up straight when it is finally time to make your mark.
Once you make it inside the voting station, you will need to present your valid identification document (green barcoded ID book, smart-card ID or temporary ID certificate) to an election official who will scan said document and give you a slip confirming that you are a registered voter. They will tell you where to go from there and when it is your turn to enter the station.
After this, you will proceed to the voters’ roll table where an election official will check for your name and identity number on the segment of the national common voters’ roll for that voting district and cross out your name. The official will then mark your thumb nail with a special ink which cannot be washed off for a few days.
An election official will hand you a ballot paper. Make sure there is a stamp on the back of your ballot papers to verify that they were issued to you on that Election Day. You will be directed to a voting booth where you will cast your vote with an X. Only make one clear mark. If you make a mistake, call an election official and request a new ballot. Once you have voted, fold your ballot in half and throw it into the ballot box.
And just like that, congratulations, you just voted! Results should be out within a fairly short period, but you can view the live results from the IEC website or listen to the radio for updates as the votes are counted.
I’m Kirsten, a law student who loves writing, making spreadsheets and consuming an unhealthy amount of caffeine.
I love writing about student issues and current events.