Residents are being urged to register with the IEC in the wards where they currently live, with political party representatives arguing that registration is about far more than casting a vote on election day.

They say voter registration helps ensure that communities are properly reflected in planning, representation and resource allocation.

In simple terms, if large numbers of residents are not registered where they live, their communities may appear smaller on paper than they actually are.

Why registration matters

We often hear people saying that MLM has failed residents.

Concerns about service delivery, infrastructure and governance are frequently raised across the municipality.

However, there is another side to the discussion.

While there are legitimate complaints about municipal performance, residents are also being encouraged to recognise their own role in strengthening their communities.

One of the challenges facing the municipality is funding. The argument is that there simply is not enough budget available to address every issue that requires attention.

A contributing factor is the number of residents who are registered to vote.

Communities need to be counted

During the last election, there were just over 75 000 registered voters in MLM. Yet many residents believe the actual population living within the municipality is significantly higher than that figure.

Municipal budgets are influenced by population figures and other demographic information.

Funding is allocated from the national government to provinces and then distributed to municipalities based on a range of factors, including the size of the municipality and the communities it serves.

If thousands of residents are not registered where they live, their communities may not be fully reflected in the figures used for planning and representation.

Representation starts with registration

Municipal planning and ward representation are also influenced by the number of registered voters in each ward. The more residents who are registered where they live, the more accurately that ward reflects the size of the community it represents.

“Wards with larger numbers of registered voters generally have a stronger basis from which to motivate for resources, services and development projects because they can demonstrate the extent of the population they serve,” a local political party representative said.

Looking beyond party politics

For this reason, residents are being encouraged to set aside party-political debates for the moment and focus first on ensuring that they are registered in the ward where they currently reside.

The message is simple: before deciding who to vote for, make sure you are registered where you live.

Registration is the first step in ensuring that your community is counted, represented and heard.

Residents are encouraged to take a stand for a better town by registering today.

Register to vote: HERE