21 April 2009
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said the first day of special
voting was completed successfully.
Special voting, scheduled for yesterday, Monday and today, Tuesday, is meant
for the physically infirm, those who are in an advanced stage of pregnancy as
well as electoral staff and security personnel who will be on electoral duty on
election day. South Africans, who will be overseas on Election Day, also
qualify for a special vote.
However, those who wanted to cast special votes should have applied between
the 1 and 14 April 2009. To date about 86 000 eligible voters had applied to
cast special votes.
Advocate Pansy Tlakula, Chief Electoral Officer of the IEC, appealed to
voters not to abuse special voting privileges.
"We appeal to all South Africans to respect the right of those who qualify
to cast special votes," she said.
For media queries please contact:
Kate Bapela
Cell: 082 600 6386
Issued by: Independent Electoral Commission
21 April 2009
