How To Vote In South Africa: A Step-By-Step Voting Station Guide

Voting stations open from 07:00 to 21:00 on Election Day. Before leaving home, confirm your registered voting station and take your green barcoded ID book, smart ID card or temporary ID certificate.

At the station, election officials will check your details, issue your ballot papers and direct you to a private voting booth. Here is what to expect.

1. Find Your Correct Voting Station

Confirm the address of the voting station serving the voting district where you are registered.

Most stations are in schools, churches or community centres. Others operate from tents or specially adapted vehicles in sparsely populated rural areas.

Look for signs identifying the voting station. Use the Voting Station Finder to locate your station.

2. Present Your Identification Document

An election official at the entrance will check your identification document.

The accepted documents listed in the supplied guidance are:

Green barcoded ID book.
Smart ID card.
Temporary ID certificate.

The official will scan your document, provide a slip confirming your registration and direct you where to go.

3. Check Your Details On The Voters’ Roll

At the voters’ roll table, an official will check your name and identity number against the roll for your voting district.

Your name will be crossed off to record your participation. An official will also mark your left thumbnail with special ink, which stays on the nail for several days.

These checks help prevent repeat voting.

4. Collect And Check Your Ballot Papers

An official will hand you your ballot papers. Check for the official stamp on the back of each one.

For municipal elections, voters receive a ward ballot to choose a councillor and a proportional representation, or PR, ballot to choose a political party.

Voters in areas forming part of a district council receive a third ballot for the district council election.

5. Have Your Green ID Book Stamped

If you use a green barcoded ID book, an election official will stamp the book to record your participation.

6. Mark Your Ballots In Private

An official will direct you to an empty voting booth.

Make one clear X inside the box next to your chosen candidate or political party on each ballot paper.

If you make a mistake, call an election official and ask for a replacement ballot. Once finished, fold your ballot papers in half.

Do not photograph your marked ballot paper.

7. Place Your Ballots In The Ballot Box

An official at the ballot box will check the stamp on the back of each ballot.

Place your completed ballot papers through the slot in the ballot box, following the official’s directions.

8. Follow The Exit Route

After voting, follow the directions to the exit.

Political party representatives and independent observers monitor voting and counting to support a free and fair process.

If you are unsure about any step, ask an election official for assistance.

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