The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has announced arrangements for the casting of special votes for the forthcoming national and provincial elections.

The elections are due to be held in less than 20 days on April 14.

IEC spokesperson Lydia Young said eligible voters who could not vote on poll day at the voting station in the voting district in which they had been registered, because of various reasons, qualified for a special vote.

Reasons that are considered valid include physical infirmity, disability and pregnancy, absence on government service abroad, being an election official, being a member of the security services performing an election duty and South Africans temporarily abroad. Persons in the physical infirmity, disability and pregnancy category can apply either between 25 March and 8 April at the office of the Municipal Electoral Officer or on April 12 at the Office of the Presiding Officer of the voting district in which they have registered. "If they find themselves in hospital in a different town or city, then they must apply between March 25 and April 8 at the Municipal Electoral Office of the town or city in which the hospital is situated. "IEC officials will then visit such voters on April 12 or 13 at the place indicated on their application to enable them to cast their votes," she explained.

Election officials and members of the security forces performing election duty as well as South Africans temporarily absent who indicated they wanted to vote prior to departure, she said, can apply and vote on April 12 and 13 at the Office of the Presiding Officer of the voting district in which they have registered. –BuaNews.