18 March 2024
ELECTION DAY 29 MAY 2024: NEED TO CHANGE YOUR VOTING STATION - NOTIFY IEC By 17 MAY 2024
South Africans voting on Election Day must, as a rule, vote at the voting station of the voting district in which they are registered.
But there is one exception – if, for whatever reason, you cannot vote at your voting station but can do so at a different voting station on Election Day, you can notify the IEC beforehand. For such notifications, ( Section 24A Notification in the Electoral Act) it is now mandatory to give notice in advance if a voter wants to vote at a different voting station on 29 May 2024.
In previous elections, voters were able to apply at a voting station to vote at a different voting station on Election Day. This will no longer be allowed, and voters will be turned away if they have not notified the IEC prior to Election Day.
The submission of section 24A notifications of intention to vote at a voting station where not registered, opened on 15 March and closes at 5pm on 17 May 2024.
"This notification system will go a long way towards ensuring a seamless voting process on 29 May. We ask voters to abide by this change to the Electoral Act, so that they are not disappointed on Election Day. So, whether you're working or have plans to be outside the district where you are registered, make use of this process," said Provincial Electoral Officer, Michael Hendrickse.
Important to note:
- If you intend casting a vote at a voting station where you are not registered - but withing the province - you will receive all three ballots (National, Regional and Provincial)
- If you intend casting your vote at a voting station outside the province where you are registered, you will receive only the National ballot.
- Even if you applied to vote at another voting station and your plans change, you can still vote at your registered voting station on Election Day.
You can notify the IEC by:
- using the online portal at www.registertovote.elections.org.za
- visiting your local IEC office in person, weekdays during business hours, and submitting an application.
If you want to know your voting station, send your ID number to sms 32810 (R1/sms) or send Hi on WhatsApp 060 088 0000.
Please also remember that for queries all our IEC offices are open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 5pm. You can also reach our call centre during office hours at 0800 11 8000.
Issued by Electoral Commission SA