IEC Chaiperson, Pansy Tlakula, has again re-iterated the importance of taking part in the last two days of voter registration this weekend, and urged the youth to come out in large numbers.
Tlakula was addressing the media in Centurion ahead of the final registration on Saturday and Sunday. She appealed to the media to help spread the message.
An official IEC statement reads:
The Electoral Commission appeals to all eligible voters to make use of the final weekend registration this Saturday 8 February and Sunday 9 February to register and/or to verify their registration for this year’s upcoming national and provincial elections.
Since the last registration weekend held in November 2013, the Electoral Commission has focused substantial energy in increasing the opportunity for all South Africans who are eligible to vote to apply to register as voters.
Two voter registration weekends were conducted on 17-19 January 2014 and 24-26 January 2014 at South Africa’s 123 missions in 108 countries around the world.
Voter registration remains open during working hours of the missions.
For purposes of the 2014 National and Provincial Elections, South African citizens abroad have been encouraged to ensure that their applications are received by close of business on Friday, 7 February 2014.
The Indipendent Electoral Commission has collaborated with some radio stations throughout South Africa
To date we have received 3703 applications for registration from about 70 missions. We are still receiving more each day and processing these.
The highest number of applications have come from London, Dubai and Cuba.
Our efforts have also been directed to prisoners who are also afforded the right to vote by our Constitution and election legislation.
Registration in South Africa’s 235 correctional facilities began on 5 February.
For the rest of the South African population that is eligible to vote, all 22 263 voting stations throughout the country will be open from 8am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, the 8th and 9th of February.
This is the last weekend during which the voters can apply to register to vote for the 2014 National and Provincial elections if they have not already done so.
As of today, overall registration stands at 24.1 million.
This is 76.7% of the estimated voting age population which, according to Stats SA is 31.4 million.
This includes just over 1 million new voters who were added to the voters’ roll during the previous registration weekend held in November 2013.
Current registration percentages for each province are as follows:
Eastern Cape 82.8%, Free State 82.4%, Gauteng 72.1%, KwaZulu-Natal 79.3%, Limpopo 79.2%, Mpumalanga 73.3%, North West 75.2%, Northern Cape 80.6% and Western Cape 74.0%
As indicated before, the Electoral Commission has set itself a target of 80% of the voting age population on the voters’ roll by proclamation date.
To reach this threshold, 1.1 million will be targeted in this final registration weekend.
As always, the youth provide the greatest opportunity for growth.
Currently 22.2% of eligible voters aged 18 – 19 are registered – 428 127 out of an eligible population estimated at 1.9 million and 53.8% of those aged 20 – 29 are registered (5 103 401 out of an estimated 9.48 million population).
To further increase awareness and encourage registration the Electoral Commission has collaborated with some radio stations throughout South Africa.
They will be broadcasting outside some voting stations on Saturday and Sunday.
This is in addition to a youthful registration campaign currently underway where youth role models from the music, media and entertainment industries, amongst others, share their reasons why the youth should register and vote in the 2014 National and Provincial Elections.
To register voters must visit their correct voting station where they ordinarily live armed with a valid South African ID document – either a green barcoded ID, a new smartcard ID or a temporary ID certificate issued by the Department of Home Affairs.
To find out the location of their correct voting station eligible voters can:
• Use the Voting Station Finder APP on www.elections.org.za. This APP has recently been upgraded and enhanced to make it user friendly
• Call the IEC Call Centre on 0800 11 8000. The Call Centre is open from 7am to 9pm every day this week including Saturday and Sunday.
Voters who are already registered can check their registration details including which voting station they are registered at by SMSing their ID number to 32810.
You can also find the IEC on Facebook: www.facebook.com/IECSouthAfrica, Twitter: @IECSouthAfrica, YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/IECSouthAfrica, and the Call centre on 0800 11 8000
The IEC hosted a media briefing at Election House in Centurion on Thursday.
In it, the Commission discussed the upcoming voter registration weekend of 8 and 9 February.
Click below to view the IEC media briefing:
Speaking on Morning Live earlier, Vice Chairperson of the IEC, Terry Tselane says over 6 000 prisoners registered on the first day of registering them.
He urges all South Africans to take advantage of this registration opportunity so that they may be included in the voters roll.
Click on the video below for more.
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