All systems go for local government elections

Written by Neo Semono

As the date for the Municipal Elections 2016 draws closer Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Des van Rooyen says the elections will be free and fair.
“It is all systems go. We don’t see any reason we should postpone the elections… Come 3 August, we will render another free, fair and very successful local government elections,” said Minister Van Rooyen.

Local government elections require that potential voters register in the ward in which they reside.

In the lead-up to the elections, government encouraged all eligible voters to register and verify their details on the voters’ roll.

Minister Van Rooyen said government is encouraged that South Africans registered in their numbers.

According to the Electoral Commission (IEC), the two voter registration weekends in March and April witnessed a total of
1 384 254 new voters being added to the voters’ roll, with 80 percent of them being under the age of 30.

This brought the total number of voters to
26 296 601 million or approximately 77 percent of the eligible voting population. Over 6.6 million voters visited their voting stations over the voter registration weekends.

“Government is pleased that South Africans took this opportunity to register, especially the first time voters and the youth,” he said.

Those who have still not registered for the elections can still visit the IEC offices in their local municipalities to update their details on the voters’ roll.

How to check your voting status

Voters can also check their status by dialing *120*432# or online: www.elections.org.za or call the Contact Centre on 0800 11 8000 between 7am and 9pm.

To register or to update registration and address details, voters must complete a REC1 voter registration application form and present it in person at the voting station for the voting district in which they ordinarily reside.

The form is also available online on: www.elections.org.za which voters can complete online, print a copy and bring it with them to their voting station.

Voters without formal addresses must complete and sign an affirmation form (REC AS) accompanying the REC 1 form in which they attest to the fact they live in the relevant voting district.

In municipal elections voters may only vote where they are registered and voters are reminded that it is a criminal offence to knowingly register in a voting district in which they are not ordinarily resident.