Frequently Asked Questions: For voters

If you can't get to your voting station on Election Day for National and Provincial elections because you're heavily pregnant, you can apply for a special vote.
Please see special votes for details.

Yes, you can vote in national and provincial elections as long as you have your valid, green, bar-coded ID and you are registered to vote. Check your voter registration status online to confirm that your name appears on the voters' roll.

Yes, just get a Temporary Identity Certificate (TIC) that will be valid on election day. You can apply for your TIC at the Department of Home Affairs. Please also check your registration details and confirm that your name appears on the voters' roll (check your voter registration status online). You can re-register if necessary, as you must be on the voters' roll to vote (see How do I register? for details).

No, you must have turned 18 on or before the day on which the elections are proclaimed (published in the Government Gazette) to be able to vote. No exceptions can be made.

National and Provincial Elections:

You need to vote at the voting station where you're registered to vote. However, if you're outside of your voting district on Election Day you may vote at another voting station in South Africa. If you're outside the province where you registered, you'll only be able to vote in the national election and not the provincial election, and you'll be asked to complete a VEC 4 form at the voting station.

Municipal Elections and By-Elections:

You need to vote at the voting station at which you're registered.

Please remember that you must be a registered voter in South Africa in order to vote. To confirm that your name is on the voters' roll and to find out which voting station you're registered at, please check your voter registration status online or SMS your ID number to 32810. To locate your voting station on a map, please see our online voting station finder.

If you are a South African citizen and are registered to vote, but will be out of the country on Election Day, please see special votes for details on how to apply for a special vote (national and provincial elections only).

If you can't vote at your voting station on Election Day for National and Provincial elections because you'll be out of the country on government service, you can apply for a special vote. Please see special votes for details.

If you're a South African citizen and you registered as a voter in SA, you can inform the Electoral Commission of your intention to vote outside of the country (VEC 10) for national and provincial elections. Please see voting abroad for details on how to apply to vote.

If you're confined to your bed and can't get to your voting station on Election Day, you can apply for a special vote. Please see special votes for details.

If you're bedridden or in hospital and can't get to your voting station on Election Day for National and Provincial elections, you can apply for a special vote. Please see special votes for details.

You will be allowed to vote as long as your name is on the voters' roll. If your name isn't on the voters' roll and you don't have your registration sticker, you have no proof that you've registered and you won't be able to vote. Please check your voter registration status online to make sure your name is on the voters' roll.

Yes, you can vote if you have a Temporary Identity Certificate (TIC) that is valid on Election Day. You can apply for a TIC at the Department of Home Affairs. Please remember, you will only be able to vote if you are a registered voter.

No, every voter must vote in person at the voting station.

No, you can only vote with your South African, green, bar-coded ID, smartcard ID or a valid Temporary Identity Certificate (TIC). You can apply for a green, bar-coded ID, smartcard ID or a valid Temporary Identity Certificate (TIC) from the Department of Home Affairs.

No, only South African citizens with a green, bar-coded ID, smartcard ID or a valid Temporary Identity Certificate (TIC) can vote in elections.

There are police and/or army personnel at every voting station to ensure your safety.

You can take anyone who is at least 18 years old and not a party agent with you to the voting station to help you cast your vote. You can also ask the presiding officer at the voting station to help you and/or provide you with a voting aid known as a universal ballot template (UBT).

No, voting is not compulsory in SA, however voting is an important civic duty and we encourage all South Africans to participate.

If you're a member of the SANDF or SAPS and are on duty on Election Day, you can apply for a special vote. Please see special votes for details.

No, people are not allowed to place party posters in registration or voting stations.

No, the Voters' Roll for a specific election closes at 5pm on the day of proclamation of the election date (The President's official announcement of the election date). Please see How do I register? for details.

No, you must register at the voting station (only open for registration during special registration weekends) in your voting district, and this might not be the one closest to your home. To find out where your voting station is, please use the online Voting Station Finder.

No, once the voters' roll closes (at 5pm on the date of proclamation of the election date), you can't change/update your details for that election. You will have to wait until after the election.

You can register during office hours at your local IEC office responsible for the voting district in which you live. Please see How do I register? for details.

A Registration Supervisor is the person in charge of a registration station. Neither they nor any other IEC staff can wear any political party colours. One registered party agent is allowed inside each registration station and they may wear their party colours, but they may not talk/canvass in the station. Members of the public can wear anything.

Please check your voter registration status on line to find out if you're registered.

Please see How do I register? for details.

You must be registered and 18 or older on the day that the election date is proclaimed (announced by the President and gazetted) to be able to vote.

You have to go to the Department of Home Affairs or call them on 0800 601 190 to see how they can help you. Unfortunately we can't help you with this issue. You must have a green, bar-coded South African ID book, smartcard ID or Temporary Identity Certificate (TIC) to register as a voter and to vote.

No, for the purposes of voter registration, only a green, bar-coded South African ID book, smartcard ID or Temporary Identity Certificate (TIC) are valid. Please apply for your ID book at Department of Home Affairs.

Yes, you must be registered in the voting district where you live. Your voting district may change, even if you only move a short distance. Please go to your local IEC office to register in your new voting district. Alternatively, during special registration weekends you can register at your voting station. To find out where your new voting station is, please use our online Voting Station Finder and enter your new address.

No, you only have to re-register if your address, personal details or voting district has changed. Please check your voter registration status online to see your registration details.

Yes, you can register as soon as you have your a green, bar-coded South African ID book or smartcard ID. As soon as there's an election when you'll be at least 18 years old on Election Day, we'll add you to the voters' roll so that you can vote.

No. We use your ID number and check it against the National Population Register (NPR). We get your name as it's reflected on the NPR (the Department of Home Affairs automatically changes your name when you get married), and that is the name that appears on the Voters' Roll. You can apply to Department of Home Affairs for a new ID reflecting your married name if you want to.

Please see How do I register? for info on the requirements.

A receipt is pasted in your ID book.

You must re-register if your address, personal details or voting district has changed. Please check your voter registration status online to see your registration details. If your details have changed since you last registered, please see How do I register? for details on how to register (the re-registration process is the same as the registration process).

It's open for inspection on a continuous basis at local IEC office during office hours. You can also inspect the voters' roll at your voting station (see voter registration status to find out where your voting station is) during registration weekends to verify your details and re-register if your details have changed.

National and Provincial Elections:

You need to vote at the voting station where you're registered to vote. However, if you're outside of your voting district on Election Day you may vote at another voting station in South Africa. If you're outside the province where you registered, you'll only be able to vote in the national election and not the provincial election, and you'll be asked to complete a VEC 4 form at the voting station.

Municipal Elections and By-Elections:

You need to vote at the voting station at which you're registered.

Please remember that you must be a registered voter in South Africa in order to vote. To confirm that your name is on the voters' roll and to find out which voting station you're registered at, please check your voter registration status online or SMS your ID number to 32810. To locate your voting station on a map, please see our online voting station finder.

No, you must vote in person at your voting station.

We try to communicate any changes to you, but please check your voter registration status online before each election to confirm that your voting station hasn't changed.

Voting stations may change from time to time, depending on availability of each voting venue. To find out where your voting station is, please check your voter registration status online. You can then use our online voting station finder to find a map to your voting station.

National and Provincial Elections:

You need to vote at the voting station where you're registered to vote. However, if you're outside of your voting district on Election Day you may vote at another voting station in South Africa. If you're outside the province where you registered, you'll only be able to vote in the national election and not the provincial election, and you'll be asked to complete a VEC 4 form at the voting station.

Municipal Elections and By-Elections:

You need to vote at the voting station at which you're registered.

Please remember that you must be a registered voter in South Africa in order to vote. To confirm that your name is on the voters' roll and to find out which voting station you're registered at, please check your voter registration status online or SMS your ID number to 32810. To locate your voting station on a map, please see our online voting station finder.