Last chance to register to vote

SOUTH AFRICANS must exercise their constitutional right and vote for the party of their choice.

Voter registration weekend is set to take place on Saturday, 26 and Sunday, 27 January next year.

The Electoral Commission (IEC) chairperson, Glen Mashinini says all 22 932 voting stations will open from 08:00 to 17:00 on the voter registration weekend.

“This is to allow new voters to register and existing voters to update and check their registration details.”

Mashinini said there are currently 26.1 million registered voters on the national common voters’ roll.

The IEC hopes to add at least one million new voters to the voters’ roll ahead of the 2019 elections.

Beside the voter registration weekend eligible voters can also register to vote and update their details on the voter's roll at the IEC offices in their local municipality.

Mashinini said the voter registration drive will also be conducted at correctional centres throughout the country to allow inmates to exercise their right to vote.

“For voting purposes, prisoners are regarded as being registered to vote in the voting district in which their prison is located.

“Family members of those who are incarcerated in correctional facilities are requested to deliver their identity documents to them ahead of this registration drive,” Mashinini said.

Voter registration

The IEC is hopeful that voters, who are already registered, will use the opportunity to visit their voting station to check their registration and specifically to confirm and update their address details.

Here’s what you need to know:

• All South African citizens aged 16 and older who are in possession of an official ID document can register as voters (although only those who are at least 18-years-old on voting day may vote). • Voters must take a copy of their bar-coded ID book, smart card ID or temporary ID certificate when they go to register in the voting district in which they reside.

• When registering, voters will have to provide their address or a description of where they live to allow the Electoral Commission to place them on the correct segment of the voters’ roll. Proof of address is not required.

The Electoral Commission contact centre will also be activated ahead of the national registration weekend and will be operational until after the registration weekend to assist citizens to register and vote.

Mashinini appealed to all stakeholders, including political parties, government departments and entities, media and civil society organisations to support the registration drive and encourage voter registration ahead of elections. SAnews