Over a million cast their vote in the LGE 2021

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South Africans are already sharing their inked thumbs on social media as the 2021 Local Government Elections kicked off on Saturday.

Voters who registered for the special vote made their way to the polls after the Electoral Commission (IEC) approved a record 1 110 257 applications for special votes in the 2021 Municipal Elections.

The IEC has been visiting homes for the elderly while other essential workers have been walking into polling stations to vote.

In comparison to the 2016 elections, this figure represents a 62% increase in the number of special votes.

Home visit in Springbok:

IEC officials in the Springbok area in the #NCape conducting home visits for those unable to get to voting stations. Each team here in the Bersig area in Springbok will do around 20 home visits today. #SpecialVotes #LGE2021 #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/tC6zZVNHZa

— Ulrich Hendriks (@UlrichHendriks) October 30, 2021

Of the 1 110 194 applications received, 507 364 (49%) are home visits and 602 780 (51%) will be cast at a voting station. The positive response by voters is a reflection of the accessibility of the application process, which allows voters to apply online, via SMS, and by way of physical submission at a local office of the Electoral Commission.

Election officials will visit the homes of those who are unable to travel to the voting station.

IEC officials in the Springbok area in the #NCape conducting home visits for those unable to get to voting stations. Each team here in the Bersig area in Springbok will do around 20 home visits today. #SpecialVotes #LGE2021 #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/tC6zZVNHZa

— Ulrich Hendriks (@UlrichHendriks) October 30, 2021

Special votes nationwide:

All special votes collected are stored securely overnight on 30 and 31 October and are then opened, reconciled and added to the ordinary ballots cast on 1 November 2021 before counting begins.

A total of 507 407 home visits were requested:

602 850 Special Votes were registered and approved nationwide: