MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT

We break down what the new rules are and what to expect for the seventh national elections later this month

- SIPHOKAZI ZAMA

IT’S OFF to the polls we go again on 29 May – almost 30 years and a month to the day we voted in the first democratic elections.

Things will be a little different in the voting booth this time: we’ll get three ballot papers instead of two and we can cast votes for independent candidates who aren’t part of any political party.

Still confused about exactly why there’s a three-ballot system? We try to unpack what it all means.

HOW THE 400 SEATS IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WILL BE FILLED

• A total of 200 are reserved for regional (provincial) seats. 

• Each of the nine provinces gets a number of regional seats proportional to the number of registered voters in that province. 

• Independents as well as parties contest these seats. 

• The other 200 seats in the national assembly are filled by political parties only.