IEC hope to register the youth

Less than half of eligible voters under the age of 30 are currently registered to vote, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said on Wednesday, according to SAPA.
Only 8.7 percent of eligible voters were aged between 18 and 19, compared to the average registration levels of over 90 percent for older age groups, reported IEC chairwoman Pansy Tlakula.
The IEC hopes to increase registrations to 80 percent of the voting age population, in line with levels of previous elections. This would require an additional two million voters to register.
IEC deputy chair Terry Tselane said the IEC’s awareness programme had used social media networks to target the youth.

So far the IEC has 27 500 likes on its Facebook page and 15 000 followers on Twitter.

Tlakula was briefing the media on the IEC’s readiness for its registration weekend.
All 22 263 voting stations around the country would be open from 8am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday for people to register, change their registration details or verify their details.
A total of 45,795 election officials would work to register new voters and verify existing registration details.

Register to vote

To register, you must be a South African citizen, at least 16-years-old (but you may only vote when you are 18 or older) and have a green bar-coded identity book or valid temporary ID.
You can apply to register at any time before the date of the election is announced.
You can visit a voting station during the registration weekend from November 9 to 10 or register at an Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) office nearest to you.
In Ballito (ward six) there are two voting stations, the Ballito library and the Scout Hall in Townsend Park. Contact ward Six cllr Colin Marsh on 083 782 1011.

Voting stations In Salt Rock and Chaka’s Rock (ward 22) are at Salt Rock Library, Compensation Trading Store, Sizane School, Tinley Manor Baptist Church and Shakaskraal Secondary school. Contact ward 22 cllr Ann McDonnell on 082 5727 389. The Westbrook Retirement Village is also a voting station.
Visit the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) website at  www.elections.org.za to check your voting station and your registration status or send an SMS with your ID number to 32810.