The Electoral Commission urges all South Africa\u2019s 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\u2019 roll in preparation for the 2019 elections.<\/p>\n
All 22 612 voting stations around the country will open for the public between 8am and 5pm over the weekend to:<\/p>
\u2022 Assist new voters to register.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Allow already registered voters who have moved since they registered to re-register in their correct voting district.<\/p>
\u2022 Allow registered voters whose address details are not on the voters\u2019 roll to provide this information.<\/p>\n
The Electoral Commission has made an early start to the preparations for the 2019 elections.<\/p>\n
These elections are expected between May and August 2019.<\/p>\n
Critically, this registration weekend is a milestone towards the culmination of a two-year project to obtain addresses for all registered voters.<\/p>\n
It is an opportunity to ensure that voters are registered in the correct voting district segments.<\/p>\n
South Africans might recall the ruling of the Constitutional Court in 2016 which gave the Electoral Commission until June 2018 to update the voters\u2019 roll with all available addresses.<\/p>\n
Over the past two years the Electoral Commission has made significant progress in updating addresses on the voters\u2019 roll including:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Increasing the proportion of complete addresses from 34 per cent of registered voters in March 2016 to 75 per cent of registered voters currently.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Reducing the proportion of incomplete or generic addresses from 34 per cent in March 2016 to 14 per cent.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Reducing the percentage of registered voters without any recorded address from 32 per cent to approximately 11 per cent.<\/p>\n
The Electoral Commission has sourced addresses using different initiatives including the following:<\/p>\n
\u2022 The Electoral Commission reviewed records, files and archives to check and capture all addresses provided by voters over the past 20 years.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Collected addresses during the 2016 municipal elections from voters who did not have addresses on the voters roll.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Undertaken field work ahead of registration weekends for by-elections. Where necessary, this has included moving voters found to be registered in the incorrect voting districts as provided for by Section 12 (1)(d) of the Electoral Act.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Received and used, where possible, address data from other state sources such as Stats SA, Sassa, Telkom, the SA Post Office and the Department of Home Affairs.<\/p>\n
\u2022 In October 2017 the Electoral Commission launched an online facility for registered voters with internet access to review and\/or provide their address via www.elections.org.za. This was accompanied by a national advertising initiative.<\/p>\n
Having done all of the above, the Electoral Commission still does not as yet have addresses for 2.8 million voters.<\/p>\n
They have a further 3.5 million addresses that are currently classified as \u201cincomplete\u201d or \u201cgeneric\u201d.<\/p>\n
This category requires further analysis to ascertain whether there is any further detail available.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Dukathole the perfect host for National Police Day<\/a><\/p>\n Rest-a-While sends water to the Cape<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chief electoral officer, Sy Mamabolo urged all voters to make every effort to visit their voting station during the weekend of March 10 and 11.<\/p>\n \u201cThe voters\u2019 roll is the bedrock of electoral integrity.<\/p>\n \u201cIts quality is the foundation for credible, free and fair elections.<\/p>\n \u201cThis includes making sure all eligible voters are registered in the correct segment of the voters\u2019 roll.<\/p>\n \u201cThe requisite quality of the voters\u2019 roll is depended on the support and participation of voters and all stakeholders,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He further called upon all people in South African as individuals, political parties, civic organisations, NGOs, activists, the media, traditional leaders and faith-based organisations to ensure the success of the weekend.<\/p>\n \u201cThe voters\u2019 roll is a national asset.<\/p>\n \u201cIt requires constant maintenance, constant updating and constant checking to retain its currency and its quality,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you are active on social media tell your followers about the importance of having an accurate and up-to-date voters\u2019 roll.<\/p>\n \u201cUrge them to check their registration details on the voters roll on March 10 and 11.<\/p>\n \u201cEncourage all new and first-time voters to register over the weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n The contact centre (0800 11 8000) has been activated Monday to Friday during office hours to assist voters to find their correct voting station and to answer any queries.<\/p>\n Registered voters can also SMS their ID number to 32810 to receive an SMS containing the address of their voting station (charged at R1).<\/p>\n The online facility (available at https:\/\/www.elections.org.za\/MyIEC\/Account\/Register) remains open for registered voters with access to the internet to update and review their address online.<\/p>\n These voters are also being urged to update their details before the end of May 2018.<\/p>\n Voters visiting their voting station should take a copy of their barcoded ID book, smart card ID or temporary ID certificate.<\/p>\n They will be assisted to complete a registration form providing their home address at which they ordinarily reside, which will allow the Electoral Commission to place them in the correct voting district.<\/p>\n Proof of residence is not required.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are ready to open all the voting stations in March to make it easy and convenient for all voters to update their registration details on the voters\u2019 roll.<\/p>\n \u201cBut we need voters to show up and make use of the opportunity,\u201d said Mamabolo.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n