Poor turnout during voters registration weekend

Local Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) officials have expressed concern about poor voter registration figures at voting stations accross Randfontein and Westonaria.

While officials expected a poor turnout in Bekkersdal where frustrated residents boycotted voting registration, they apparently were taken aback by the poor figures in the rest of Randfontein and
Westonaria.

According to IEC Project Coordinator for Randfontein Johnnie Sekwale, fewer than 4 000 new voter registrations were recorded during voter registration weekend on 9 and 10 November.

Statistics captured after the registration weekend indicate that voter registrations have increased from 71 950 to 75 315.

This number is much lower than was expected.

“Despite the hurdles in Bekkersdal, statistics indicate that we experienced really low volumes of people registering to vote for next year’s elections,” says Sekwale.

“This obviously does not sit well with us as it is our mission to get people to excercise their right and their responsibility to vote.

“People need to know the importance of voting in order to have a say in their country,” says Sekwale.

He adds that despite the poor turnout, the IEC is optimistic that the numbers will pick up when the registrations open again in February next year.

Sekwale advises that people who have relocated need to update their status of registration to ensure that they are able to vote in their new area of residence.