MyZA

News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff

You are here: Home / Archives for Voting

Voting

Register to vote at your local municipal offices

Location: News

Register to vote at your local municipal offices

The Electoral Commission is urging those who could not make it to their local voting stations to register or rectify their details to visit its online facility and local municipal offices for assistance.

“The Commission extends its gratitude to thousands of South Africans who have gone online and visited our registration stations to register, re-register or check their details.

“Our online facility and local municipal offices will remain open for registration and verification of details until the date of the elections is proclaimed by the President,” said the Commission.

This as the Commission held its second Voter Registration Weekend on 3 and 4 February.

The registration weekend was held in preparation for the country’s 2024 National and Provincial Elections.

The Commission extended its gratitude to the thousands of South Africans who have gone online and visited the registration stations to register, re-register or check their details.

In a statement on Sunday, the Commission said day two of the registration weekend went well.

According to the Commission, by 8am, over 99% of the 23 303 voting stations had opened with the remainder opening before 8:30am.

“At 1pm … a total of 564 715 registration transactions had been recorded at voting stations,” said the Commission.

Meanwhile, on Saturday the Commission recorded 67 200 online registration transactions. The figure for online registrations on Sunday stood at 34 293.

The provincial breakdown of the registrations recorded is as follows:

Province                     F                         M                       Grand total

Eastern Cape             50 504                43 335                93 839

Free State                  17 496                16 462                33 958

Gauteng                     55 990                60 294                116 284

KwaZulu-Natal           68 305                63 126                131 431

Limpopo                     32 166                25 276                57 442

Mpumalanga              20 426                21 367                41 793

North West                 18 963                17 871                36 834

Northern Cape           6 827                  6 869                  13 696

Out Of Country          519                     494                      1 013

Western Cape           18 781                19 644                 38 425

                                  289 977              274 738               564 715

The Commission reminded eligible voters of the general rule in elections.

“That is, a person votes at a voting station where they are registered. The only exception to the general rule is that a voter may vote outside of the voting district of registration upon notification to the Commission by a date to be regulated by the Election Timetable,” the Commission said.

Details of the modalities of notification will be outlined after the registration process.

The Commission held the first voter registration weekend from 18 - 19 November 2023. – SAnews.gov.za

 

 

Edwin
Mon, 02/05/2024 - 09:56

109 views
Read moreRegister to vote at your local municipal offices

Good start to second voter registration weekend

Location: News

Good start to second voter registration weekend

The Electoral Commission has announced that 304 221 voters have visited voting stations in the initial hours of the first day of the second voter registration weekend.

This was ahead of the country’s 2024 National and Provincial Elections.

Of these, 55 019 were persons who were registering for the first time.

“The Electoral Commission is pleased to report that the second registration weekend for the imminent 2024 National and Provincial Elections got off to a good start. 

“This early turnout not only sets a positive tone for the registration period but also serves as a testament that citizens remain engaged with affairs of their country,” the IEC said on Saturday. 

The IEC said that within five hours of the registration process getting underway across the network of 23,303 voting stations nationwide, over 99% of stations were operational within minutes of the commencement time of 8 am.

This as the Commission is holding the second voter registration weekend on 3 and 4 February 2024 in preparation for the general elections of the National Assembly and Provincial Legislatures. The first voter registration weekend was held from 18 - 19 November 2023.

The Electoral Commission extended its sincere appreciation to the 68,718 electoral officers for their duty to the country as well as the citizens for their enthusiastic participation. 

“Whether you are a first-time participant or a seasoned voter, we encourage all South Africans to seize this historic moment by registering and casting their votes in the forthcoming elections. 

“Today alone, the online voter registration portal recorded over 20 325 (7 234 new) voter registration transactions. We urge voters who may have had a less than pleasant experience using the online platform, to try again. The online portal remains available 24 hours a day until the day the elections are proclaimed,” the IEC said.

The weekend’s important registration activity comes on the back of two major achievements by the Commission which are:

  • The national voters’ roll has, for the first time, surpassed the 27 million mark. In the 2019 National and Provincial Elections (NPE), the certified voters’ roll stood at 26.7 million. 
  •  The online registration platform continues to prove that it is the mainstay of registrations in between general voter registration weekends. It has recorded just under 200 000 new registrations since the registration weekend in November 2023. Overall registration activity in that period stood at 498 000.

Meanwhile, for those in need of assistance with identity documents, the Department of Home Affairs offices are open this weekend, facilitating the collection and issuance of necessary documents for registration purposes.

The Commission extended profound gratitude to the department for the exceptional support it is rendering. 

“It is important to reiterate that our collective goal, as a nation, is to ensure that every one of the eligible voters in South Africa is registered to vote in the 2024 National and Provincial Elections. It is, therefore, apposite that we remind voters of the general rule in elections. 

“That is, a person votes at a voting station where they are registered. The only exception to the general rule is that a voter may vote outside of the voting district of registration upon notification to the Commission by a date to be regulated by the Election Timetable,” the IEC said.

The Commission has further encouraged all eligible voters to seize the remaining hours of the registration weekend to actively participate in shaping the future of our nation, whether online or at registration stations. – SAnews.gov.za

 

DikelediM
Sun, 02/04/2024 - 08:53

133 views
Read moreGood start to second voter registration weekend

All systems fade for second voter registration weekend

Location: News

All systems go for second voter registration weekend

Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo says the Electoral Commission is ready to welcome eligible South Africans at the 23 303 registration stations across the country this weekend - to register or check their details ahead of the national elections.

This weekend will be the second Voter Registration Weekend after the weekend of 18 - 19 November 2023.

“The Electoral Commission will hold the second voter registration weekend on 3 and 4 February 2024 in preparation for the general elections of the National Assembly and Provincial Legislatures,” Mamabolo said, addressing the media in Pretoria earlier today.

“We further urge eligible voters to visit the registration stations, to inspect, or update their registration details or to do so online.”

He urged all South Africans to make use of the coming weekend to register for the elections.

Registration weekends remain the most accessible modality of registration as affirmed by the yield from the first registration weekend.

Registration stations will be open from 08h00 and close on 17h00 on both days. Over 69 718 staff members have been recruited and trained for the voter registration weekend.

“The recruitment criteria for electoral staff was conceived in consultation with the national political liaison committee.

“The names of trained staff have also been shared with the municipal political liaison committees to facilitate objections against those staff members that are deemed unsuitable. Out of the appointed staff, 53 028 are female and 16 690 are male.

“In addition, 35 640 registration staff are under the age of 35, whilst 26 475 are between the ages 36 and 50. The balance of 7 603 are people who are 51 years old and above. Crucially, 50 213 of the total staff complement are unemployed persons,” Mamabolo said.

The commission’s collective goal, he said, is to ensure that every one of the eligible voters in South Africa is registered to vote in the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.

“Ahead of the second voter registration weekend, we remind voters of the general rule in elections. That is, a person votes at a voting station where they are registered.

“The only exception to the general rule is that a voter may vote outside of the voting district of registration only if they have first notified the commission by the date which will be regulated by the Election Timetable.

“The need for this prior notification is new and comes about as a result of the changes to the law. Details of the modalities of this notification will be outlined after the registration process,” he said.

Mamabolo explained that the success of the first Registration Weekend was, in the main, because of the efficiencies brought by the Voter Management Devices (VMD’s).

“The VMD is the mainstay technology for the delivery of the registration process. Once again, three business applications will be running on the VMDs during this weekend,” he said.

The international segment of the voters’ roll for out of country registrations stood at approximately 18 000 South Africans ahead of the registration weekend out of the country.

“Following the registration weekend for out of country citizens, this segment of the roll now stands at 29 318 voters. Out of country registrations can still continue via the online registration process that the Commission has developed and which is accessible through the Commission’s website,” Mamabolo said.

He said as of today, voters can also check their registration status and voting station details via the IEC's Whatsapp Chatbot on 0600 88 0000. – SAnews.gov.za

 

 

 

Edwin
Wed, 01/31/2024 - 15:21

210 views
Read moreAll systems fade for second voter registration weekend

IEC to host voter registration this weekend

Location: News

IEC to host voter registration this weekend

The Electoral Commission (IEC) will on Wednesday host a media briefing to unveil plans for the second national voter registration weekend scheduled for 3 and 4 February 2024.

The second national voter registration weekend is part of the Electoral Commission's effort to ensure that South Africans, who were unable to register to vote during the first registration drive in November 2023, have another opportunity to do so.

Existing voters will also use the opportunity to update and/or change their details before the voters’ roll is closed for the 2024 General Elections.

During the briefing, the Electoral Commission will shed light on its countrywide rollout plan ahead of the voter registration weekend.

Last week, the IEC announced that South Africans living abroad were given the opportunity to register at South Africa’s 120 high commissions, embassies and consulates on January 26, 27 and 28.

Registration for inmates at correctional centres is scheduled to take place between January 30 and February 1.

“The Commission has been informed that due to the transfer factor for inmates, correctional centres will also be accepting IDs for inmates serving sentences in distant towns or provinces. These identity documents will be transferred to the relevant facilities where inmates are incarcerated,” the IEC said in a statement.

The Department of Correctional Services has indicated that it will put all necessary measures in place to ensure that IDs are kept safe.

The IEC emphasizes that the online voter registration portal will remain accessible until the date of the proclamation of the elections, providing an additional avenue for voter registration.

According to the IEC, 23 296 voting stations will open from 08h00 to 17h00 on Saturday, 3 February and Sunday, 4 February to allow new voters to register and existing voters to check and if necessary, update their registration details ahead of the 2024 National and Provincial Elections.

Following the first registration weekend held in November 2023, the voters’ roll contains 26.8 million voters.

The Commission said it is hopeful that the second registration weekend will build on and surpass the satisfactory turnout recorded in November.

Citizens aged 16 years and older can register to vote. All they need is a South African identity document (the green barcoded ID book, smartcard ID or a valid temporary ID certificate).  However, only those aged 18 and older can vote.

When registering, voters will need to provide their address or a description of where they live to allow the Electoral Commission to place them on the correct segment of the voters’ roll. However, proof of address is not a requirement to register as a voter.     

The Electoral Commission helpline -- 0800 11 8000 -- is available to assist citizens with queries and information about the registration process and information related to locations of voting stations. – SAnews.gov.za

Edwin
Mon, 01/29/2024 - 13:09

353 views
Read moreIEC to host voter registration this weekend

Electoral Commission ready to register inmates at correctional centres 

Location: News

Electoral Commission ready to register inmates at correctional centres 

In preparation for inmates’ voter registration this week, the Electoral Commission (IEC) and Department of Correctional Services have urged families of inmates to deliver identity documents (ID) to correctional centres. 

The inmates’ voter registration week is scheduled for 30 January to 1 February 2024, ahead of the national and provincial elections.

The IEC said it acknowledged that many offenders do not keep ID documents in their possession and it is for this reason family members are requested to make the necessary arrangements by delivering any of the following forms of identification: green-barcoded ID, smartcard ID or temporary identification certificate (TIC) to correctional facilities.

“The commission has been informed that due to the transfer factor for inmates, correctional centres will also be accepting IDs for inmates serving sentences in distant towns or provinces. These identity documents will be transferred to the relevant facilities where inmates are incarcerated,” the statement read. 

The Department of Correctional Services has indicated that it will put all necessary measures in place to ensure that IDs are kept safe.

“The South African Constitution states that every eligible adult citizen has the right to vote. Placement in a correctional facility does not abrogate this right exercised by inmates without exception since the general elections in 1999. However, a green barcode ID, a smart card ID, or TIC is a necessity for one to register as a voter,” the IEC said. 

Eligible inmates will be permitted to apply for voter registration scheduled for 30 January to 1 February 2024 against the voting district where their home address falls. 

“The Electoral Commission urges all eligible inmates to participate in the upcoming 2024 national and provincial elections by updating their voter registration details or registering as voters.” – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Sun, 01/28/2024 - 07:35

287 views
Read moreElectoral Commission ready to register inmates at correctional centres