IEC bans photos of marked ballots at voting stations
Ongoing: Elections Hot
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) reminded voters of the rules at voting stations ahead of Wednesday's Local Government Elections. Voters must mark ballots in private, and campaigning or intimidating voters inside voting stations is not allowed.
Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Shiburi spoke at the IEC Results Operations Centre in Midrand. He also responded to concerns about the position of voting booths and the privacy of voters.
Shiburi said booths should stand in an "ATM position", so the voter's body hides the ballot paper from anyone behind them. He explained the idea this way: "You obscure the keypad, in this instance the ballot paper, with your body."
Shiburi said this placement is critical to protect the right to vote in secret. He said it also stops people from inducing voters to make a mark, take a picture or hand over a ballot in exchange for something.
Key facts
- Who
- Masego Shiburi (Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Independent Electoral Commission); Independent Electoral Commission (electoral body that reminded voters of voting station rules)
- What
- Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Shiburi, speaking at the Results Operations Centre in Midrand, reminded voters not to photograph marked ballots, to mark ballots in private, and not to campaign or intimidate voters inside voting stations. Shiburi also described the required placement of voting booths, responding to concerns about booth positioning and privacy.
- When
- 3 November 2026
- Where
- Midrand
- Status
- Reported