Voter registration weekend is in full swing after the Electoral Commission declared that it’s geared up and ready to receive potential voters at registration stations across South Africa. A total of 23 151 registration stations will be in operation from 8am until 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday, September 18-19.
Any South African citizen who is at least 16 years old can register but you only vote from age 18. You will need to be possession of a valid South African ID document (Smart Card, green barcoded book or a Temporary Identification Certificate) in order to register to vote in the upcoming local government elections.
It’s also important that voters indicate an address or a description of a place where they live, however, proof of address is not a requirement for registration purposes. Jurisprudence from the courts provides that the Commission must record a voter’s address and ensure that each voter is registered within a Ward in which they are ordinarily resident.
Voters who are registered can confirm their registration online on the website, on the IEC APP and by calling the contact centre at 0800 11 8000 (calls are free of charge from a landline and standard mobile network rates apply). Furthermore, an identity number can be sent to 32810 via SMS.
Every voter should has the responsibility of adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols at all times which means wearing a mask, maintaining a distance and regularly sanitising your hands.
Here are a few frequently asked questions:
Where should I register to vote?
- For those able to access the IEC’s services online, click here to locate your nearest voting station.
- Click here to find out who your ward councillor is.
What should I take to the voting station?
- Your green bar-coded South African ID book, or a smartcard ID, or a temporary identification certificate to confirm whether your name appears on the voters’ roll.
How do I know if I’m registered to vote?
- Click here to check your registration status.
- You will have to update your details if you’ve moved in order to vote in your new district.
- You can also SMS your 13-digit ID number to 32810 (cost of R1 per SMS).
- Call the IEC’s contact centre on 0800 11 8000.
South Africans who want to cast their votes during the local government elections taking place on November 1 are expected to head out to voting stations this weekend to register.
Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery