Seen videos of ballots tipped into a box? The IEC says it's not fraud
The IEC says viral videos of staff moving special votes into main ballot boxes show normal procedure. It has 34 misinformation complaints, mostly from X, and asks people to report fakes on Real411.
The Electoral Commission (IEC) says videos circulating online of election staff tipping special vote ballots into the main ballot box show normal procedure, not fraud. IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo said on Tuesday, 3 November, that the clips "lacked context" and that no violations were being considered over them (The Citizen).
Why are special votes moved into the main ballot box?
Special votes collected on home visits are carried back to the voting station in boxes and bags, then transferred into the station's main ballot box. Mamabolo said supporters of some parties had filmed staff doing this after "unsubstantiated election fraud pronouncements" by political parties, and posted the videos as if they showed wrongdoing (The Citizen).
How much election misinformation has the IEC picked up?
The IEC had received 34 complaints about misinformation, incitement, hate speech and harassment from online content by Tuesday. Its information integrity hub said attempts to question the integrity of the vote grew over the previous 24 hours (The Citizen).
| Platform | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| X | 58% |
| TikTok | 23.5% |
| 8.8% | |
| WhatsApp and others | Remainder |
Source: IEC figures reported by The Citizen.
How do you report a fake election post?
The IEC asks the public to report false election information on Real411, the official complaints platform for digital harms such as disinformation and hate speech. You need a link to the post or a screenshot. Before you share a clip, check whether the IEC or a credible news outlet has addressed it. The IEC posts updates on elections.org.za.
What else happened during special voting?
The IEC said all voting stations opened on time on Tuesday and every home visit team was deployed. It also reported intimidation of officials, disruptions and tampering with election material, including supporters storming storage facilities in KwaZulu-Natal, where police dispersed them. Police arrested two women who allegedly posed as IEC officials, and a candidate was arrested in Mpumalanga after allegedly trashing a polling station (The Citizen). The IEC says it is taking legal steps against those responsible.
Can you still vote if you missed your special vote?
Yes. Special voting closed at 5pm on Tuesday, and Mamabolo said registered special voters who didn't make it can still vote at their own voting station on Wednesday, 4 November, when stations open at 7am (The Citizen).
FAQ
Are the videos of ballots being moved into ballot boxes proof of fraud?
No. The IEC says they show special votes from home visits being transferred into the main ballot box, and no violations are being considered.
Where do I report fake election news?
Report it on Real411 (real411.org), the platform the IEC asks the public to use.
I missed my special vote. Can I still vote?
Yes. You can vote at your voting station on 4 November from 7am.