A second and final registration weekend will be held on February 8 and 9 next year.
The IEC noted a significant increase in registrations over the last registration weekend in which just over one million new voters were added to the voters’ roll. Over 80 per cent of these were young people under 30 years of age. A further 1,5 million people updated their registration details.
It also noted the continued challenge of raising registration levels among young people, especially those aged 18-19, whose registration levels were the lowest of any age group at less than 23 per cent.
The extra weekend will allow time for eligible voters who have not yet applied for ID documents to apply at their nearest home affairs office and they are encouraged to do so before the annual holiday season.
The February registration weekend will be the final opportunity for new voters to register and for registered voters to change their voting station ahead of the 2014 national and provincial elections. It is anticipated that the President will proclaim the election date shortly after the registration weekend, closing the voters’ roll in line with legislation.
There are currently 24 112 414 registered voters (76,7%) and the commission hopes to reach 80 per cent registration of eligible voters ahead of the election.
