With a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections expected to hit South Africa in December, you may be wondering what to expect when visiting your voting station to make your mark in the 2021 Municipal Elections.
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed our lives, but we can’t delay our political rights indefinitely and South Africa’s sixth municipal elections are going ahead on 1 November 2021.
The Electoral Commission is intent on ensuring that the elections don’t become a super-spreader event. Here’s our guide to the new safer voting process. Please:
- Wear a mask when you vote, as per lockdown regulations for all persons in public places. If you don’t have a mask or face cover, election officials will refuse you entry to the voting station and you will not be able to vote.
- Keep a social distance of 1.5 m from…well, everyone… fellow voters, election officials, party agents and observers, at all times while queuing and inside your voting station.
- Wait your turn before entering the voting station as only a limited number of people may be inside the venue at the same time.
- Know that liquid sanitiser will be sprayed on your hands by an election official before you enter the voting station.
- We care for the safety of our election officials. They will be provided with masks and gloves to wear, and 70% alcohol sanitiser for hands and surfaces at voting stations and for special voting by home visits, in line with government regulations.
- You can bring your own pen for marking ballots at the voting station, but be advised that election officials will be sanitising all pens at the voting stations after each use.
- Note that election officials will mark your thumb with indelible ink liquid from a bottle applied on a cotton bud, which will be disposed of after each use. They will then ask you to wait before leaving the voting station to make sure the ink has dried on your thumbnail, should you decide to sanitise your hands again afterwards.
- Rest assured that all voting station surfaces, including tables and booths, will regularly be wiped with 70% alcohol disinfectant.
- Say if it’s not okay. Politely speak up if people are too close to you, or if anyone’s behaviour makes you feel uncomfortable. Keep yourself and others safe.
Watch the video below:
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WhatsApp ‘Hi’ to 0600 88 0000
Brought to you by the Electoral Commission of South Africa