Vote Where You Registered Prevented Many from Voting

Picture courtesy: (eNCA) Some citizens couldn’t vote because of the new elections policy which states to vote where you registered.

(The Post News)- The new elections policy in south Africa to vote where you’re registered has left some citizens disappointed and dissatisfied in the new policy.

Eligible voters who were unable to cast their ballots during the extended voting hours from yesterday, May 29, into the early hours of Thursday expressed significant disappointment.

Despite the extension to accommodate delays and hiccups at voting stations, some registered voters were turned away because they needed to vote at their specific registered locations.

Many of these disappointed voters voiced their frustration, believing that their votes could have made a difference in the election outcome. Their disappointment highlights the challenges and complexities that voters were met with in this election cycle.

Lindiwe Khumalo, a retiree in Pretoria, shared her disappointment: “I’ve lived here for years, but my registration is in a rural area. It’s impractical for me to go there just to vote.”

South Africa recently implemented a significant change in its electoral process: the requirement that citizens vote where they are registered. This policy, introduced ahead of the 2024 elections, has sparked both support and controversy.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) emphasizes that voters must cast their ballots at the voting districts where they are registered.

This means that if you’re registered in a specific area, you can only vote there. The rationale behind this policy is to streamline the voting process and ensure accuracy in the electoral system.

While the policy aims to prevent irregularities, it also left certain citizens disappointed and dissatisfied. Some explained that the policy is overwhelming doesn’t accommodate them and has cost them their part in voting.

Thabo Molefe, a student in Durban, echoed similar sentiments: “I’m registered in my hometown, but I’m studying here. I missed the chance to vote because I couldn’t travel during exams.”

The new law allows voting outside the registered district only if the voter notifies the IEC in advance.

However, this requirement was not widely known as citizens express no knowledge of it. Voting at the registered station now involves three ballot papers one for the national assembly, another for regional representation, and a third for provincial legislature.

Another resident of Johannesburg Nokuthula Dlamini expressed frustration: “I’ve moved to Cape Town for work, but my registration is still in Gauteng. I couldn’t afford to travel back just to vote. It feels unfair.”

Eligible voters who attempted to vote at stations other than the ones they were registered at could only cast their votes for the national ballot, not for the provincial and regional ballots. This restriction left many voters feeling disappointed and believing that their full participation in the election could have influenced the results.

Despite the extended voting hours from yesterday, May 29, into the early hours of Thursday to address various issues at voting station
By participating, citizens shape the country’s future. Not voting means leaving decisions to others. As Thabo Molefe suitably stated, “Elections are a chance for ordinary citizens to determine who leads their country.”

All voting stations are done counting results. The results are now being captured and audited by IEC.