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South Africa elections 2024: Can ANC overcome challenge from Zuma, DA, EFF and others? - BBC News South Africa elections 2024: Can ANC overcome challenge from Zuma, DA, EFF and others? - BBC News
(32 minutes later)
Farouk Chothia
BBC News, Johannesburg No major security incidents reported so far but thousands of security forces are keeping guard across the country.
For the first time, voters will receive three ballot papers - not two - when they enter a polling booth. Nearly 3,000 soldiers are collaborating with police to ensure smooth voting.
The first ballot will have a list of parties competing for 200 parliamentary seats nationwide. Besides the military’s duty to ensure peaceful elections, soldiers are also helping deliver materials in far-flung polling stations that are only accessible by boat or helicopters.
The second ballot will list parties - and independents - in provinces vying for a further 200 parliamentary seats. The army is also set to transport the ballot boxes for counting once polling stations are closed.
This is the first time that this ballot has been introduced in order to give independents a chance to run for parliament, and to strengthen provincial representation in the law-making body.
There is no direct election for the president - the new National Assembly chooses the president, who is normally the leader of the majority party.
The third ballot is for provincial legislatures - one for each of South Africa’s nine provinces.
Voters in each province vote for their own parliament, called a legislature - and this time around they will be able to vote for independents, rather than only parties.
Provinces have huge budgets, and are responsible for things like education and health, along with the national government.
This might all seem very complicated - if you want a better understanding of the electoral system it's worth reading this handy explainer by political scientist Dirk Kotze in The Conversation.
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