# Elections 2026: What is a spoilt vote? Here are 7 examples [photos]

Put your ‘X’ in the boxes and move on. That’s the protocol for voting in the upcoming 2026 Local Government Elections. But there are always voters who end up getting this simple task very, very wrong. It’s not just a handful of voters, either: thousands of people register a “spoilt vote” in every election, with varying degrees of purpose. Were you aware that an incredible 204 847 South Africans queued to vote five years ago in the 2019 general election, but submitted ballot papers that were spoilt. Don’t spoil your ballot! Some choose to register a protest vote and intentionally

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/elections/elections-2026-what-is-a-spoilt-vote-here-are-7-examples-photos/

Image: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/495a101a-rb-3.png

Image: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/8bd00158-rb-4.png

Image: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/f9f1e440-rejected-ballots-2.png

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Created: 2026-10-28T09:59:30.681446+00:00

Last edited: 2026-10-28T09:59:30.681446+00:00

Board: 3

Origin: Syndicated

Original source: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/elections/elections-2026-what-is-a-spoilt-vote-here-are-7-examples-photos/