All you need to know about voting
No date yet, but time to check is early March
ALL voting stations in South Africa will open from 8am to 5pm on the weekend of Saturday March 5 and Sunday, March 6 for new voters to register and for existing voters to update and check their registration details ahead of this year’s municipal elections.
The dates for the voter registration weekend were announced at the official launch of the 2016 Municipal Elections at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand last week. The date for the election itself will only be known later this year when it is proclaimed by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) David van Rooyen.
In terms of the Constitution, the municipal elections must take place between 18 May and 16 August 2016 – the 90 day window provided at the conclusion of the five year term of office of municipal councillors elected in 2011 and in any subsequent by-elections.
The Electoral Commission has urged all participants including eligible voters, political parties and their candidates as well as any independent candidates to ensure they are ready to participate in the elections.
Following the municipal demarcation process undertaken by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB), the number of municipalities has been reduced from 278 to 257. This includes eight metropolitan municipalities (unchanged from 2011), 205 local municipalities (compared with 226 in 2011), and 44 district municipalities (unchanged).
There is also a 15% reduction in wards with the final figure at 4 392.
The Electoral Commission is also in the final stages of reviewing voting station boundaries in the light of the newly demarcated wards with the current voting station network of 22 513 voting stations and is estimated to finally amount to 22 600.
All eligible voters (South African citizens aged 18 or older) have been asked to ensure they are registered in the correct voting district where they ordinarily reside. Voting in a municipal election is only allowed at the voting district in which the individual is registered to vote. Find out where by:
Calling the Electoral Commission Contact Centre on 080-011-8000 between 7am and 9pm weekdays. For the first time the Contact Centre agents are available from Monday, January 18, to assist voters via webchat ( www.elections.org.za ), Twitter (@IECSouthAfrica), Facebook (IECSouthAfrica) and email ( info@elections.org.za) and;
using the voting sta- tion finder app on the IEC website at www.elections.org.za or by dialing *120*IEC# (*120*432#).
Voters who are already registered can SMS their ID number to 32810 (cost R1) to receive confirmation of their voter registration details including the name of their voting station.
Voters need to take with them their green barcoded ID book, smart ID card or a valid temporary ID certificate to the voting station. No other forms of ID are accepted for voter registration.