A step-by-step guide on how to cast a valid vote

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to vote:

*  When you arrive at the voting station, electoral officers will check if you are on the voters’ roll and scan your ID documents.

*  Your thumb will be marked with ink to indicate that you have voted and ensure that people don’t vote more than once. If you are not on the voters’ roll an IEC official will scan your ID book to check if you are registered. If you are registered, you will have to complete a VEC4 form to vote. If you are not registered, you cannot vote.

* Once you’ve been struck off the voters’ roll, two ballot papers are issued – for provincial and national votes.

During tomorrow’s election you will be casting a vote for who you want to govern the country nationally, and who you want to govern provincially.
This means you will receive two ballot papers. The ballots won’t necessarily have the same party list. There are 29 parties on the national ballot paper and there are 18 on KwaZulu Natal’s provincial ballot.

*  Eligible voters who did not register this time round, but voted in previous elections are automatically added to the country’s voter registry and will also be able to part take in this year’s election.
* Once inside the voting booth, you mark your preferred candidate with an ‘X’ in the square provided.

*The marked ballots are then folded and put into their respective boxes. Once voting is over nationally the counting begins.

What is allowed at voting stations

* Voters are allowed to ask for assistance when selecting a name on a ballot but it must be done in the presence of the presiding office and two political party agents,from different parties.
* Blind voters can bring one person to assist them but the person has to be over the age of 18.
* Acredited observers and monitors are also allowed inside.  NOTE: Monitors are allowed to intervene if something goes wrong. Observers are not; they have to bring it to the attention of the presiding officer.
* You are allowed to wear political party T-shirts.
* Marches, protests and gatherings are not allowed on voting day.
* Door-to-door-campaigns, SMS/phone campaigns, loud-hailing and the distribution of stickers are all allowed.
* No adverts are allowed to be broadcast in the 24-hours before elections take place and on election day.
If you have any queries, you can also call the IEC’s customer care line: 0800 11 8000