Some of us might be looking forward to the upcoming elections, but the thought of standing in long queues for many hours can easily put us off, resulting in some dreading to cast their votes on May 29th.
The long wait in queues is worth every minute spent, as voting is our way of acknowledging our satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the current government.
As exhausting as the thought of long queues may be, there are ways to make the whole process endurable, we share five tips that will help make your voting experience more pleasant.
- Dress comfortably, as the queues at voting stations can be long – Financial institution Nedbank advises this as uncomfortable shoes and clothes that are too tight can bring a lot of pain that may lead to anxiety. This also goes for the weather, you don’t want to dress too light when it’s cold or too warm when it’s hot.
- “Take an umbrella as not all voting stations have an undercover queueing area, and unpredictable weather could leave you stuck in pouring rain or blazing sun,”– As a result of climate change, we can expect a change of weather any time of the day, that is why it is important to stay prepared by taking with an umbrella in case it rains, says the financial institution.
- Pack water and snacks – First, make sure you have had a meal before leaving the house. Nedbank advises that you carry some snacks in case you start getting cravings or get thirsty.
- Take a pen – Pens are provided at voting stations but it wouldn’t hurt to bring your own. After the COVID-19 pandemic, many people started being cautious of sharing items with people they were not familiar with.
- Take a friend, a loved one or a relative with you – Standing in a long queue alone can be boring that’s why taking someone with may be a good idea, shares the People’s Assembly.
- Make sure you know who you’re voting for before you get to the voting booth – According to Nedbank, knowing who you’ll be voting for will help you and those who follow after you as it will be easy for you to locate your preferred candidate. This way you won’t spend too much time thinking while other people are waiting to go in the booth.
Also see: Centane villagers detail why they won’t vote during the elections
