IEC calls on young voters to register at various voting stations

The Independent Electoral Commission has encouraged new voters to come out in numbers and register at the various voting stations on the final registration weekend of 26 and 27 January.

Spokesperson for IEC said they were calling on voters between the ages of 16 and 29 years to heed the call for final registration. “The Electoral Commission is especially eager for young, first-time voters to register as a new generation of participants in our 25-year-old electoral democracy. Special registration drives are also being planned for tertiary education campuses once they open in February to help boost youth registrations. All South Africa citizens aged 16 and older 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,” said Bapela.

Bapela said each voting station would be stocked with registration forms in all official languages, maps of the ward to help locate voters’ place of residence and copies of the current voters’ roll along with various stationery items and signboards. Stations would be opened from 8am until 5pm.

“Each voting station will also be equipped with a ‘zip zip’ ID scanner which contains the voter’s roll and helps to link each visitor to the voting station and ward. Voting stations will be staffed by an average of three registration officials to assist voters swiftly and efficiently,” she said.

IEC has revealed that there are currently 26 million registered voters on the national common voters’ roll and the Electoral Commission hopes at least one million additional voters would be added during the weekend’s registration drive.

Those who have moved home, even a short distance, may need to re-register as the voting district and station may have changed. “During municipal and by-elections, you can only vote at the voting station where you’re registered to vote, so it’s essential to re-register when you move.”

To find your voting station, go to www.elections.org.za, click on voting station finder and search for your current address. Compare the voting district number to your registration details. If district numbers are not the same, you need to re-register in your new voting district.

“Voting station venues may change, so please check your registration details to confirm your voting station before going there to register,” added Bapela.

How was your experience with checking your registration status online? Leave a comment below …