Voter registration postponed

Voter registration has been postponed to July 31 and August 1 due to the rampant surge of the third Covid wave. This was announced by the IEC following a review of the current rate of infections and hospitalisations.

Ward 97 councillor, Leah Knott said she supported the postponed as it allowed citizens to get over the peak of the virus, and for people 50 years and older to get their vaccines. “The online registration for first-time voters will also be opened on July 13 which will reduce numbers at actual stations on registration weekend. The move doesn’t affect the current election on October 27, while ensuring that residents aren’t put at an unnecessary risk.”

To register to vote at a registration site, make sure you have either your smart ID or green ID book. For local government elections, you have to register at a specific voting station. First-time voters and residents that changed addressed in the last five years also have the option of changing their address online.

Amelia Bester, Ward 89 councillor said while she respected that regular elections should be held, the focus needed to be on getting the nation through the current third wave. “With the first two Covid waves, people affected were numbers to most of us, but now it’s a close friend, a family member, a neighbour, a colleague. People are generally just trying to get by. Many are battling with a mental-health issue as a knock-on effect. The last thing on our minds is standing in a queue to register to vote.”