Municipal elections are done to elect councils for all and every district, metropolitan and local municipalities (governing bodies) in each of the country’s provinces. Safe to say that it is done to vote for a political party and a ward councillor. South Africa’s municipal elections have been scheduled to hold on the November 1, 2021 each of the country’s nine provinces.
How to vote in Municipal Elections
On the said election day, check your voter’s registration status to find out where you’ve been registered, this is exactly where you vote. Follow and obey evry instructions given by the voting officer.
You’d be instructed by the officer to show your green, bar-coded, South African ID book or a temporary identification certificate to ensure that your name appears on the voter’s roll.
However, if you are not on the voters’ roll but have proof that you have registered (e.g. registration sticker), the Presiding Officer must validate your proof of registration.
If the voting officer is satisfied with the proof, you must complete a VEC4 form (for national elections) or MEC7 form (for municipal elections). You will then be allowed to continue as an ordinary voter.
Once the voting officer is satisfied that you have the correct ID, that you are a registered voter and have not already voted, your name is marked off the roll, your ID is stamped, and your thumbnail is inked.
You are then given a stamped official ballot paper/s.
Take your ballot paper/s to an empty ballot booth, mark the ballot paper, fold it so that your choice isn’t visible and place the ballot paper in the ballot box.
It is worth noting that you can only vote once in each election.
If you are physically disabled or visually impaired, you can choose someone to help you at the voting station.
The Presiding Officer can also help you cast your vote, but an observer and, if available, two agents from different parties must be present.
If you incorrectly mark a ballot paper and realise this before placing the paper in the ballot box, ask the Presiding Officer for a new ballot paper.
Make sure that the incorrect ballot paper is marked as “cancelled”.
How many ballot papers for local government election?
If you live in a metropolitan area (e.g. Johannesburg), you will receive two ballots. You will get one for a ward councillor and one for a party. If you live in a local council with wards, you will receive three ballots: one for a ward councillor for the Local Council; one for a party for the Local Council; and one for a party for the District Council.
Where do I vote for municipal elections?
If you are within South Africa, you need to vote at the voting station where you’re registered to vote. Check your voter registration status to find out which voting station you’re registered to vote at but if outside your voting district, you may vote at another voting station but must be in South Africa by using the Voting Station Finder to find the correct station.
If you are out of the country during election time, you need to vote at the South African embassy, high commission or consulate-general you selected when you submitted your approved VEC10 notification of your intention to vote abroad.
When does voting start?
Voting starts at 7am on November 1 and ends at 9pm on the same day.