Last chance to register to vote
South Africans in South Africa will probably have their last opportunity on Saturday and Sunday, February 8 and 9, to either register or re-register to vote in this year’s elections.
All voting stations will be open from 8am to 5pm on both days for registrations, re-registrations and checking of voter registrations.
It is anticipated that President Jacob Zuma will announce the election date soon after the second registration weekend, and possibly as soon as Monday, February 10.
While some citizens may not be sure who they will be voting for, they will not be able to vote if they are not registered to vote, and could lose their Provincial Vote if living in a different province to where they are registered to vote.
Every South African currently not registered to vote needs to visit their voting station in order to register.
If you have never voted before, or last voted in 1994, you will need to register to vote. Registration is not automatic, so if you turned 18 since the 2011 Municipal Elections, you are probably not registered.
Residents can check their voter registration status by sending their ID number per SMS without any spaces to 32810.
You can also go to the IEC website www.elections.org.za where under the “For voters” option there is a drop-down box where you will click on “My voter registration details”, and you will be able to enter your ID number.
For your registration status and voting station details, you can also call 0800 11 8000 (toll-free from a landline) between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
The reply will tell you the voting station where you are registered or indicate that you are not registered.
If the voting station is not your local voting station, or there is an indication that you are not registered, you can then click on the “Where do I vote?” option.
At the bottom is a “Voting Station Finder” option, and this will take you to a map where you will enter your physical street and suburb, and through a series of prompts you will be able to find your street address on a map, and the voting station where you need to register.
If you have any difficulty with the above process, phone the municipal electoral offices in Boksburg (Civic Centre, Room G34) on 011 999 5947 or 086 512 2010.
