With election day set for 29 May, the Western Cape branch of the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says prospective voters, who may have voted before, need to take note of a new addition at voting stations.

A third ballot.

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Since the dawn of democracy only two ballots were available to voters, for the national assembly and for the provincial legislature.

But now, for the first time in the country’s democratic history, a third ballot will be added to represent regional seats reserved for each of the regions in the province, at the National Assembly. The IEC’s Western Cape Electoral Officer, Micheal Hendrickse, says its important that voters are aware of this change.

“Voters in the Western Cape will therefore receive at their voting stations: A National Ballot – this ballot is the same for the whole country where you vote for a political party only; a Western Cape Regional Ballot – this a vote for an independent or party to fill the regional seats reserved in Parliament for the Western Cape; a Western Cape Provincial Ballot – this is a vote for an independent or party for the Western Cape Provincial Legislature.”

This follows a changed to the Electoral Amendment Act, to include independent candidates who run for office as a member of parliament.

Hendrickse further elaborated on the how the 400 seats in the National Assembly are divided.

“200 are reserved for the regional seats. Each province thus gets a number of regional seats based on the number of voters in that province. Independents and parties contest for these seats. The remaining 200 seats in the National Assembly is filled by national PR lists of political parties only, as independents are already catered for on the regional ballot(s).”

Voter registration closing date

South African citizens have until Friday, 23 February, to register online for the opportunity to vote in the national and provincial elections – or to change registration details.

To check your registration status, log onto the voter registration portal on www.elections.org.za or:

• Send your ID number to 31820 at a cost of R1 per SMS; or
• Use the IEC Whatsapp chatbot at 0600 88 0000; or
• Contact the call centre during office hours at 0800 11 8000.