Elections 2024: Everything to know about the THREE ballot papers

On Wednesday, 29 May 2024, South Africans will vote for a government of their choice for the next five years.

This year’s elections will be the seventh in South Africa’s history since the dawn of democracy in 1994.

The day has also been declared a public holiday in the country.

DO YOU KNOW YOUR BALLOT PAPERS?

South Africans will vote by marking a ‘X’ on the party of independent candidate of their choice on each of the three ballots to make their voice heard.

The three ballot papers a voter will get on voting day are the following:

• National Compensatory ballot
• National Regional ballot
• Provincial Legislature ballot

NATIONAL COMPENSATORY BALLOT

This ballot is the same across the entire country

It features political parties only, contesting for seats in the National Assembly

Each party will have its political party name, face of the party leader, abbreviation of the party, the party logo and the box to make your ‘X’ mark

This ballot will be a double of single column depending on how many political parties are contesting

A hole for the UGT for the blind and partially sighted

One ballot, one ‘X’ mark!

NATIONAL REGIONAL BALLOT

This ballot is specific to your voting region and includes candidates running for the National Assembly who represent your area

You’ll find both parties and independent candidates listed here

Each party will have its political party name, face of the party leader, abbreviation of the party, the party logo and for Independent candidate, name of independent, face of the independent and the word independent then the box to make your ‘X’ mark

A hole for the UBT for the blind and partially sighted

One ballot, one ‘X’ mark!

PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE BALLOT

This ballot is unique to your province and includes parties and independe candidates competing for seats in your provincial legislature

For political parties: political party name, face of the party leader, abbreviation of the party, the party logo and the box to make your mark

For independent candidates: name of the independent, face of the independent, and the word independent then the box to make your ‘X’ mark

A hole for the UBT for the blind and partially sighted

One ballot, one ‘X’ mark!

OVERSEAS ELECTIONS 2024 VOTE DATES CONFIRMED

Meanwhile, as reported by the SAPeople website, the dates for those living overseas – and eligible to vote – have also been confirmed.

If you live in an Islamic country, you will cast your vote on Friday, 17 May.

For everyone else registered to vote outside of Mzansi, you will do so on Saturday, 18 May.

ELECTION 2024 STATS AND FACTS

According to the official IEC website, a record number of over 27.79 million voters are eligible to do so this year.

It’s the highest total since the dawn of democracy in the country.

In 2024, the provincial breakdown of the registered voters indicates that Gauteng remains as the biggest voting block, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

There has also been a marked increase in the rate of representation by persons in the age group 18-39 years.

This age band accounts for 42% – or 11.7 million – voters on the voters’ roll.

Interestingly, the trend of there being more females on the voters’ roll continues.

Of the 27.79 million voters, 15 million are females. This represents over 55%.