The Electoral Commission (EC) urges all South Africa’s eligible voters to visit their voting stations over the weekend of March 10 and 11 as part of a national campaign to update the voters’ roll in preparation for the 2019 elections.
All 22 612 voting stations around the country will open for the public between 8am and 5pm that weekend to:
* Assist new voters to register.
* Allow already registered voters who have moved since they registered to re-register in their correct voting district.
* Allow registered voters whose address details are not on the voters’ roll to provide this information.
In October 2017 the EC launched an online facility for registered voters with internet access to review and/or provide their address via www.elections.org.za, along with a national advertising campaign.
Despite these efforts, the EC still does not yet have addresses for 2.8 million voters and a further 3.5 million addresses are currently classified as “incomplete” or “generic”.
Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo urged all voters to make an effort to visit their voting station during the weekend of March 10 and 11.
“The voters’ roll is the bedrock of electoral integrity. Its quality is the foundation for credible, free and fair elections. This includes making sure all eligible voters are registered in the correct segment of the voters’ roll,” he said.
Important to remember:
* When voters visit their voting station they must take a copy of their bar-coded ID book, smart card ID or temporary ID certificate. They must complete a registration form providing their home address at which they ordinarily reside. Proof of residence is not required.
* The EC Contact Centre (0800 11 8000) is open Monday to Friday during office hours, to assist voters to find their correct voting station and to answer any queries.
* Registered voters can also SMS their ID number to 32810 to receive an SMS containing the address of their voting station (charged at R1).
* The online facility (www.elections.org.za/MyIEC/Account/Register) remains open for registered voters with access to the internet to update and review their address online. These voters are also urged to update their details before the end of May 2018.
