17 April deadline to apply for a Special Vote

1) A special vote allows a registered voter, who can't vote at their voting station on Election Day to apply to vote on a predetermined day before Election Day.

2) Applications for special votes will run until Thursday 17 April 2014 between 9:00 and 17:00 at local IEC offices. A list of local IEC offices addresses is available on the IEC website www.elections.org.za/content/About-Us/Contact-Us/ or voters can call 0800 11 8000.

3) There are two categories of special votes:

a) Home visits: Election officials will visit voters who have successfully applied for a home visit due to physical infirmity, disability or pregnancy. These visits will be conducted on Monday 5 May 2014 and on Tuesday 6 May 2014. b) Any voters who will be absent from the voting district where they are registered on Election Day (7 May) may apply to cast their vote early. This voting will take place at the voting stations where the voter is registered on Monday 5 May and Tuesday 6 May 2014 between 9:00 and 17:00.

4) Applications for both categories are made by completing a VEC 1 form (available on www.elections.org.za or at local IEC offices) and submitted by hand to the local IEC office in the municipality responsible for the voting district where the special vote is to be cast.

5) Only those voters whose pre-approved applications were submitted between 7 and 17 April would qualify to cast a special vote.

However, if you're outside of your voting district on Election Day you may vote at another voting station in South Africa. If you're outside the province where you are registered, you'll only be able to vote in the national election and not the provincial election, and you'll be asked to complete a VEC 4 form at the voting station.