THE Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced that voter and candidate registration for the 2021 elections will be re-opened.
A registration weekend offering all eligible citizens an opportunity to register has been scheduled for the forthcoming weekend of 18 and 19 September 2021. Over this weekend, all 23,151 voting stations across the country will be open between 08:00 and 17:00 on both days for registrations.
All South African citizens aged 16 years and older in possession of an SA ID (smartcard ID or green barcoded ID book) are permitted to register as voters. Only registered voters aged 18 or older on election day may vote.
You must register in a voting district in a ward in which you ordinarily reside, and voters are reminded that it is an offence to provide false information or to knowingly register in the wrong ward.
In a local government election voters may vote only in the voting district in which they are registered. There is no latitude to vote at any other voting station. This is due to the geographic element of local government election where wards are a basis of the electoral contest.
The Electoral Commission hopes that providing a facility whereby voters can register, check and update their registration details without having to visit an IEC office or a voting station will serve to minimize congestion and maximum registration.
Due to the 24/7 nature of online registration, it will also allow voters to register and update their registration details up to the last possible moment ahead of proclamation. Proclamation has the effect of sealing the voters’ roll for purposes of an impending election.
Eligible voters can register in just a few easy steps:
- Go to https://registertovote.elections.org.za(link is external)
- Click “Register to Vote Now”
- Enter your personal details
- Enter the One-Time Pin sent to your cellphone
- Search for your address, or if you are at home, use the current location on your device
- Take a photo of your ID OR submit a scan of your ID
- You will receive an SMS within 24 hours confirming your successful registration.
The IEC has recommended that the election date be set for 1 November 2021.
Agents at the IEC Contact Centre are also able to assist voters with the online facility. The Contact Centre is open weekdays from 08:00 to 17:00 on 0800 11 8000 in all languages.
