The Electoral Commission (IEC) Western Cape, this past weekend, announced it will conduct a by-election on Wednesday 8 March in Ward 21 in Stellenbosch.
This follows the resignation of Democratic Alliance (DA) ward councillor Rickus Badenhorst late last year after being elected a member of the Western Cape Provincial Legislature for the party.
“The by-election will be contested by an independent candidate, candidates of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), the African National Congress [ANC], Democratic Alliance, Economic Freedom Fighters [EFF] and GOOD party,” said Michael Hendrickse, the IEC’s Western Cape Provincial Electoral Officer.
Applications for special voting were due to open on Monday 20 February and close on Friday the 24th at 17:00.
Hendrickse says there are two types of special votes; “one, a registered voter who cannot vote at their voting station on Election Day can apply for a special vote in order to vote on the day before at the voting station where he/she/they are registered to vote.
“Two, a registered voter who is sick or disabled and therefore cannot travel to his/her/their voting station because they are generally confined to their residence due to health reasons, may apply for a home visit at their residence which must be situated in their voting district in the ward.”
To apply for a special vote residents can visit www.elections.org.za to complete an online application or send a SMS (at cost of R1) to 32249 to apply using your cellphone.
“Alternatively, you can complete your application manually by downloading the MEC35 form at www.elections.org.za or by collecting the application form from the local IEC office,” Hendrickse said. “Do not forget to return the completed application form to your local office when applying manually.
“When the applications have been processed you will receive an SMS from the IEC informing you if have been approved for a special vote or not. Please note you can track the status of your special vote application at www.elections.org.za or by sending an SMS (at cost of R1-00) to 32711. Where applicants are assisted with their application, we urge them to provide their own telephone numbers or contact details.”
He added that special votes at voting stations and special vote home visits will take place only on Tuesday 7 March from 08:00 to 17:00, one day before the main by-election on 8 March.
“Voters must present either a green barcoded ID book, a smartcard ID, or a valid temporary ID certificate in order to vote. The IEC would like to urge only those voters who qualify, to apply for a home visit special vote. It is against the electoral law to provide any false information or to apply for a special vote on behalf of someone else without their permission.”
