With general elections looming, councillors are pleading with constituents to ensure they are registered to vote and are registered correctly.
Genevieve Sherman is the councillor for Ward 69 and has been assisting residents to regularise their status with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
“There are about 4 000 residents in our ward who are not correctly registered to vote next year. I am running a registration drive with my team of volunteers to help everyone who needs to register for the first time or re-register because they moved house recently.”
She says the figure comes from years of data analysis by the DA.
Ward 86 councillor Chantelle Fourie-Shawe estimates for her area the figure is closer to 1 500. “It is mainly for people who have moved or those who have never voted before.”
Ward 99 councillor Nicole van Dyk expands, “The 4 000 is an approximation.
“There has been an influx into Johannesburg in the last 10 years since the last census data was released.”
She says all the wards in the Northcliff Melville Times footprint can bet on about 2 000 to 4 000 residents who are incorrectly registered.
“We also have people who have matriculated since 2019 which was when the last national elections were held. They are most probably not registered to vote based on youth trends.”
She describes the normal ebb and flow of residents who move to different areas who have not re-registered.
“The IEC has now created a ruling that for both national and local government elections you must vote where you are registered. If you have moved recently and are situated a long way from where you are registered to vote, you will have to make that journey if you want to have your say in the polls.”
Ward 88 Nicolene Jonker’s turf in the 2019 elections had a 77.89% voter turnout on the day with 3 554 people who did not vote. She like other councillors are either in person or remotely trying to get as many people registered as possible before next year’s polls. “We are not sitting back and waiting on the IEC; we are having a series to get people registered and get them registered correctly.”
To register to vote, or to check your registration details, visit www.elections.org.za.
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