The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has urged registered voters who need to apply for a special vote to do so before the Friday deadline.

It warned that no late applications would be accommodated after 17:00 at IEC offices and after midnight on the online platforms.

The IEC pointed out that there were two categories of special votes: home visits and early voting.

Home visits will be granted to registered voters who are infirm or have impaired mobility and they may apply to be visited by IEC officials at home or a place of confinement to cast their votes.

The second category of special votes is available to any registered voter who wishes to vote early at their voting station.

The IEC has reported that over a million special votes applications have already been approved for the May 29 elections.

The Commission reiterated that there was no automatic age-based qualification for a special vote.

“Special votes are available to all voters, but only upon application by the deadline date of 3 May,” it said.

Both categories of special votes will be conducted on May 27 and 28, from 9:00 to 17:00.