Special vote underway in South Africa ahead of general election

A special vote began Monday in South Africa, with about 770,000 voters expected to cast their votes ahead of the general election scheduled on Wednesday, according to the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).

At the city hall in Durban, the third most populous city in South Africa, local councillor Ntando Khuzwayo is among the close to one million voters participating in the exercise.

The special vote allows a registered voter, unable to vote at their voting station on Election Day to vote ahead of the main polls.

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Those taking part have to apply well in advance.

"It was very easy, it took less than a minute, the whole thing is done so seamless. As soon as they find you on the voters roll, you then move over to get your ID stamped and then you are given the ballot, a very long ballot, it's the longest I have seen in my life," said Khuzwayo.

Meanwhile, a total of 452,418 special voters will be visited at home by voting officials.

Home visits are provided for those voters who have disabilities or other complications that will not allow them to visit voting stations.

Those who would not be near their voting stations or away on the day of the election on Wednesday also participated in the special voting.

The special vote also gives the electoral commission a chance to test the process ahead of the main voting day on Wednesday

"The first voter arrived at 9 and was able to vote. Up until now, we have voted about 12 people. We are expecting 43 people are going to come and vote," said Mamotsau Sithole, a presiding officer with the Independent Electoral Commission.

The process will conclude on Tuesday evening.

On Wednesday close to 27 million registered voters are expected to vote in more than 22,000 polling stations across the country.

The day has been declared a public holiday.

A heightened security presence is already visible at all polling stations.