Elections results
The latest numbers from every province in South Africa as ballot papers continue to be counted around the country. Image: SANews

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Elections 2024: How will the IEC count your vote?

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) explains how it will count your vote in the 2024 General Election.

By Ray Leathern
16-05-24 15:45
in Politics
Elections results
The latest numbers from every province in South Africa as ballot papers continue to be counted around the country. Image: SANews

‘Your vote counts,’ as the democratic credo goes, and here’s how the Electoral Commission (IEC) will count your vote in 2024. We already outlined the IEC’s process of stopping voter fraud in its tracks. And tomorrow’s major deadline (Friday 17 May 2024) is when you have to re-register to vote outside of your district if travelling. Nevertheless, the IEC has now elaborated on how it will count your vote in 2024. According to chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo, above all, the entity is committed to transparency and accuracy in the electoral process, reports IOL.

COUNT YOUR VOTE

count your vote
Votes will be counted at individual stations before ballots boxes are sent off to national results centre in Midrand. Image: File/Fotor

The IEC was founded on the democratic principles of fairness and accuracy. To that end, the counting of votes will occur at each voting station in the presence of political party agents and observers. Ballots will only be transported to the national results centre at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand only once a ‘results slip’ has been printed. This slip represents the results of the voting station as a whole.

Agents for the parties and independent candidates must countersign the slip to confirm its correctness. Moreover, interested persons will be allowed to capture a photo of the official results slip of that voting station with their phones. However, Mamabolo admits the introduction of a third ballot is expected to burden this process. Hence IEC’s introduction of 200 000 counting officers.

TRAINING STAFF

count your vote
The voting process begins shortly with oveseas and special votes taking place first. Image: File

Mamabolo confirms the IEC is in the final stages of training the officials who will work at voting stations. Final election results are expected to be tallied and announced on Sunday 2 June 2024.

This extension provides enough time to ensure that all votes are counted accurately. And that necessary calculations regarding National Assembly seat allocations are concluded.

  • This weekend, from Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 May, more than 75 000 overseas voters are expected to cast their votes around the world.
  • Special votes for the elderly and disabled will take place from Monday 27 to Tuesday 28 May. 1.6-million South Africans have received permission from the IEC to cast special votes.
  • The remaining 27-million eligible voters are expected to vote on Wednesday May 29.
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