All systems go for London Voters- Commission urges voters to fully utilise the first day of voting on Saturday

by
with no comment
Notices

London- South Africa’s largest in- and out-of-country voting station, is gearing up for a record turnout on Saturday and Sunday. The Electoral Commission has implemented all necessary measures to ensure a smooth voting process.

For the 2024 National Elections, the Mission in the United Kingdom has surpassed Johannesburg’s Joubert Park voting station, which had been the largest with 15,000 registered voters in the previous election. This makes London the largest voting station both inside and outside of South Africa, with 24 535 registered voters for these elections.

To accommodate the expect large turnout the Commission has implemented the following arrangements:

  • Two days for voting and extended hours has been determined. These are Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 May 2024 from 07h00-21h00. The additional special voting day and extended voting hours, are intended to enable proper arrangements for the 24 535 voters entitled to vote at the Mission;
  • Duncannon road will be closed on Saturday for the duration of voting hours and on Sunday it will be partially closed to facilitate a queueing system enabled by barrier stanchions;
  • To ensure the fast processing of voters, the Commission will deploy digital technologies in the voter verification process. Voters will be verified at the door using a combination of hardware (tablets paired with a wireless 2d Barcode scanner);
  • Approximately 90 members including road traffic management officials will be on duty.

The Commission encourages voters in this station to make use of the Saturday to exercise their rights. “Although we have made provisions for Sunday, we urge voters not to leave it until the end.”

The Voting Process

On special voting day, voters will need to present themselves in person, and will vote as follows:

  • Voters will be allowed to check their eligibility to vote by scanning the QR codes and posters that will be made available at the voting station;
    • Present their identity document (ID) book, smartcard, or Temporary Identity Certificate to the election official. A passport is no longer required for voting nor does it replace an Identity document.
  • The name of the voter is marked off the list of voters approved to vote electronically at that Mission to indicate that the voter has participated in the election;
  • The left thumbnail of the voter is marked with indelible ink to indicate that they have voted.
  • The voter is issued with the national compensatory ballot paper. and two envelopes, an unmarked envelope, and a marked envelope
  • The voter will mark the ballot in secret, and place and seal the ballot in the unmarked envelope.
  • The unmarked envelope is then placed in another envelope that is marked with the name and ID number of the voter. The use of two envelopes is to ensure the secrecy of the ballot by delinking the voter and the ballot cast.
  • The Voter then takes the envelope and place it in a secure ballot box for special votes.
  • Party agents are encouraged to record seal numbers and or affix their own security features to the packaging of envelopes which will be shipped to the Commissions national office where it will be opened, reconciled, and counted in the presence of party agents.

It’s your democracy; own it!

ISSUED BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION

Ensuring free and fair elections

Centurion

For media queries: Please contact Kate Bapela on +27 82 600 6386

For media interviews: Please email requests to: spokesperson@elections.org.za

Follow us on social media:

Tags: No tags