Confused by the 3 ballot papers? We've got you covered
For the first time in South Africa, voters will receive three ballot papers instead of two on election day.
FILE: An IEC ballot box. Picture: Cindy Archillies/Eyewitness News
John Maytham is joined by election analyst, Wayne Sussman.
Click below for the full interview.
There's been some confusion around the ballot papers on which South Africans will make their mark come election day on 29 May.
There are less than six weeks until the country holds its seventh democratic elections and voters will for the first time receive three ballot papers instead of two.
“Although the phenomenon of three ballots will be familiar to voters in various local municipalities, it will be new to voters in metropolitan areas and for the first time in general elections for national and provinces,” says IEC Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Sy Mamabolo.
Registered voters will receive three ballot papers to elect candidates to represent them in the National Assembly and Provincial Legislatures.
"It's just simply another ballot, with independent names, that the national ballot will not have."
Wayne Sussman, Election analyst
"It's designed to make sure that there is sufficient representation of the nine provinces in the National Assembley."
Wayne Sussman, Election analyst
"You're going to get three ballots. A national ballot of which Cyril Ramaphosa is the first name of the ANC, John Steenhuisen the first name of the DA, Julius Malema, first name of the EFF."
Wayne Sussman, Election analyst
"Then you get a regional ballot of which the other 200 names will come from - so Ian Cameron of the DA is on that Western Cape regional list, Cameron Dugmore on the Western Cape regional list for the ANC...he's a candidate for the national Parliament, but he's only on the regional list."
Wayne Sussman, Election analyst
"Ballot paper three you are voting for political parties and independents for the Provincial legislatures."
John Maytham, CapeTalk host
So, to summarise.
The three ballot papers are for the National Ballot - consisting of 52 political parties vying for 200 seats in the National Assembly.
The Regional or Province-to-National Ballot which voters will use to elect a political party or an independent candidate to represent them in the National Assembly.
And finally, the Provincial Ballot, which is unique to each province and includes parties and independent candidates competing for seats in each respective provincial legislature.
Still confused? Check out the video below produced by the IEC.