People who may not be able to go to their polling stations to cast their vote on the elections day, 18 May 2011 because of their disability or infirmity should apply for a special vote as from tomorrow, says Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities Ms Lulu Xingwana.
The opportunity to apply for special votes opened from 15 April to 3 May. People with disabilities or infirmity and the elderly who require a special vote need to complete application forms and submit them to their Municipal Electoral Office before 3 May. If they are unable to do so in person, they can ask another person to submit the forms on their behalf.
Details of the application will be recorded and they will receive a receipt that confirms if they qualify for a special vote. This receipt should be kept safely as proof that they qualify for a special vote.
It is critical that every South African is able to participate fully in these elections. Inability to travel or stand on a queue to cast your vote on 18 May or any other form of physical infirmity should not hinder people from exercising their hard-earned right to vote, said Minister Xingwana.
While the opportunity to apply for a special vote is available up to 3 May, Minister Xingwana urges people with disabilities and elderly to apply early as the actual days in which applications can be submitted are significantly reduced by the closure of Municipal Electoral Offices during the four public holidays within this period (Good Friday, Family Day, Freedom Day and 2 May which is also a public holiday since Workers Day falls on a Sunday).
People who cannot travel to their voting stations because of physical infirmity or disability and have successfully applied for a special vote will be visited by voting officials where they live between 8am and 5pm on 16 or 17 May to allow them to cast their vote, said Minister Xingwana.
Minister Xingwana also welcomed the announcement by the Independent Electoral Commission that it has procured the necessary equipment to make ballot papers available in Braille in all polling stations.
This is a significant development for blind people who can read Braille. For the first time during these Local Government Elections, they will be able to exercise their right to vote in secret, said Minister Xingwana.
Enquiries:
Sibani Mngadi
Cell: 082 772 0161
Source: Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities
