Voting in Mpumalanga went well despite some voter management devices not responding due to network issues.
There are no lines in most voting stations, and counting will begin soon. They intend to announce some of the results before midnight today.
The counting process will be as follows:
The ballots will be counted at the voting station where they were cast. Party agents, independent candidate agents and observers will monitor the entire counting and results process and will be present at all times. Sealed ballot boxes will be opened and emptied.
Each ballot paper is unfolded facedown and checked for the Electoral Commission security stamp. Stamped ballots are considered valid. Unstamped ballots are invalid and are not counted toward the results.
All valid ballot papers are grouped according to colours representing the type of election (national, regional and provincial). The ballots are sorted into piles according to votes for each party and each candidate.
The ballots are counted and bundled into packs of 100.
The results are counted for each party or candidate.
The results for the various parties or candidates are reconciled against the number of ballots received and the total number of ballots cast at that voting station.
Results slips are signed by the presiding officer, independent candidate agents and party agents. A copy of the results slip is posted on the door of each voting station.
The other copy is transported to the local Electoral Commission office where it is scanned and captured in the results system. The results are also verified by independent external auditors.
The results centres are there for political party representatives and independents to monitor the voting, counting and results process. Other stakeholders present include the media and observers.
The final results and seat allocation for the National Assembly and Provincial Legislatures Elections are announced by the Electoral Commission within seven days of the election.
The Electoral Commission thanks key role players in this election, political parties and independents at the National Political Liaison, Provincial Political Liaison Committee, and the Local Political Liaison Committees.
