Still in the queue at 9pm? You can still vote, the IEC confirms

Yes. If you're in the queue at your voting station when it closes at 9pm tonight, you will still be allowed to vote. IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya confirmed the rule at the commission's briefing in Midrand on Wednesday morning (SABC News).

Voting stations opened at 7am and close at 9pm on 4 November for the local government elections (IOL).

What does the law say about late queues?

The election law says voting must carry on until every voter who is entitled to vote at that station, and who reported there before closing time, has voted (The South African). Officials can keep processing people well after 9pm.

The catch is timing. Nobody may be let into a voting station to vote after it has closed (Electoral Act, section 36). Arriving at 9.05pm is too late.

What should you do if the queue is long?

• Get into the line before 9pm and stay in it. Leaving and coming back later loses your place.
• Make sure it's the station where you're registered. In municipal elections you can't simply vote at another station (IOL).
• Bring your green barcoded ID book, smart ID card or a valid temporary ID certificate.

IEC guidance used in past municipal elections tells presiding officers to bring everyone waiting inside the station's boundary before closing, so those voters are counted as having arrived on time (The South African).

Which other rules apply at voting stations today?

At the same briefing, the IEC said campaigning inside voting station boundaries is banned and organised marches and rallies are prohibited anywhere in the country on election day. Low-key campaigning away from voting stations is allowed, and there's no election silence rule (SABC News).

How do you report a problem at your station?

If you're turned away while you were in the queue before 9pm, ask to speak to the presiding officer at the station first. You can also contact the IEC through its official channels at elections.org.za or its official X account.