The case of special voting or postal ballots has been a contentious grey area and a historical note on it is worth elaborating on. In the March 2008 Zimbabwe harmonised election, members of the security sector, who would be out of their constituencies on election related duties on polling day, were allowed to cast a postal ballot in advance. In 2008, some 4 350 members of the security sector apparently met the necessary criteria and were granted postal votes. However, evidence emerged that this system was abused, as members of the security sector were obliged to complete postal vote forms under the watchful eye of their superiors. The system was thus changed under the amended Electoral Act for 2013 to provide a “Special Vote” for sector members who met the same criteria of absence from the constituency on account of duty. ZEC received nearly 66 000 applications18 for Special Votes from the ZRP, and accepted 63 268,19 a number which appeared massively inflated against what the then Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti claimed was an establishment on the payroll of 44 133. Allegations were made that the number had been increased by the inclusion of spouses of members and general hands employed at police stations20. The police spokesperson claimed that the large figure was due to the inclusion of the Special Constabulary that would be on duty during elections. Interestingly in 2018 the high figures, which had raised eyebrows in previous elections were brought. For instance, 7 464 people successfully applied for the postal vote and these were members of the ZRP, the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Air Force of Zimbabwe, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials and electoral officials. Of these 6 177 were returned to ZEC on time for processing. The postal vote almost led to a credibility crisis for the election because on the 12th of July 2018 an uproar erupted among the opposition MDC Alliance, ZEC and the police over the law enforcement officers’ ‘clandestine and illegal voting’ in Bulawayo amid vote-rigging fears. Despite no agreement on the ballot papers and within one day of Originally reported as being 69 222 - Special Vote Court Case Postponed as ZEC U-turns on Voters‟ Roll SW Radio 17.07.13. As quoted in RAU (2014). "Numbers out of Tune? An examination of the vote in Harmonised July 2013 Election. "Full Report. Harare: RAU. 18 Joyce Kazembe, the Deputy Chair of ZEC, reportedly supplied the revised numbers – see ZEC Starts Ballot Paper Distribution The Herald 24.07.13. As quoted in RAU (2014). "Numbers out of Tune? An examination of the vote in Harmonised July 2013 Election. "Full Report. Harare: RAU. 19 20 Flawed Special Voting System The Zimbabwean 10.07.13. In RAU (2014). "Numbers out of Tune? An examination of the vote in Harmonised July 2013 Election. "Full Report. Harare: RAU. 24