Smooth and steady start to the 2024 National and Provincial Elections
Voting in the 2024 National and
Provincial Elections (NPE 2024) got off to a steady start, with an overwhelming
majority of our voting stations – 93% – reported open both online and physically.
The remainder of the voting stations opened soon thereafter.
There were a number of voting
stations that delayed opening because of late delivery of materials, delayed
escorts by security services or protests by certain community members.
In most stations queues had
formed even before the stations opened. This is testament to the enthusiasm of
South Africans to record their political choices.
Commission is pleased to report
that all our trained staff members reported for duty and started welcoming the
first of the 26 million eligible voters at 7am at the 23,292 voting stations
across the country.
At 12 noon, election operations
around the country reported good progress with minimal incidents reported.
The Electoral Commission assures
voters that adequate supplies of all materials, including more than 90 million
ballot papers, are available, and every voter will be assisted to vote.
The Commission further urges
voters in the queues to be patient, as traditionally, voting queues peak early
as voters often seek to vote first thing during the day. Where there were
difficulties with our voter management device, instructions were issued for
voting to proceed on the manual voters’ roll.
We also remind voters of the
cardinal rule in the NPE 2024, to vote where you are registered. Also, once in
the voting station and presented with ballot papers, remember to make one mark
on one ballot.
Voting also kicked off this
morning at correctional facilities across the country.
Clear skies and good weather were
reported throughout the country. The Commission welcomes the message from the
government that no load-shedding is forecast for today or the coming days.
The Electoral Commission advised
those who have voted not to go on extra effort to remove the indelible ink mark
on their thumbs. The indelible ink is one of several security checks and
safeguards built into the election process, but the Commission wishes to remind
all voters that any attempt to undermine the integrity of the election process,
including attempting to remove the ink mark, constitutes electoral fraud and is
punishable by up to 10 years in jail.
The Electoral Commission
continues to meet with the key role players in this election, political parties
and independents at National Party Liaison (NPLC), Provincial Party Liaison
Committee (PPLC) and the Local Party Liaison Committees (LPLC). We continuously
engage on the unfolding election process, the issues arising from the
operations in various sites of the 23 292 voting stations.
The Electoral Commission wishes
to thank voters who have already responded to the call to vote and appeals to
all remaining voters to make their way to a voting station before they close at
21h00 tonight.
ISSUED BY THE ELECTORAL
COMMISSION
Ensuring free, fair and credible
elections
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