All voting stations will open from 8am to 5pm over the weekend of March 5 and 6 for new voters to register and for existing voters to update and check their registration details ahead of this year’s municipal elections.
The date for the election itself will only be known later this year when it is proclaimed by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), David van Rooyen, which will start the official election timetable.
In terms of the Constitution, the municipal elections must take place between May 18 and August 16.
Following the municipal demarcation process undertaken by the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB), the number of municipalities has been reduced from 278 to 257. There is also a 15 per cent reduction in wards with a final figure at 4 392.
The Electoral Commission is now in the final stages of reviewing voting station boundaries in the light of the newly demarcated wards.
All eligible voters (South African citizens aged 18 or older) should ensure they are registered in the correct voting district where they ordinarily reside. Unlike national and provincial elections, voting in a municipal election is only allowed at the voting district in which you are registered to vote.
There are a number of ways voters can find their correct voting station:
• Call the Electoral Commission contact centre on 0800 11 8000 between 7am and 9pm weekdays.
For the first time the centre agents will also be available from January 18 to assist voters via webchat (www.elections.org.za), Twitter (@IECSouthAfrica), Facebook (IECSouthAfrica) and email (info@elections.org.za)
• Use the voting station finder app on the IEC website at www.elections.org.za
• Dial *120*IEC# (*120*432#)
Voters who are already registered can SMS their ID number to 32810 (cost R1) to receive confirmation of their voter registration details, including the name of their voting station.
Voters need to take with them their green barcoded ID book, smart ID card or a valid temporary ID certificate to the voting station. No other forms of ID are accepted for voter registration.
The Electoral Commission reminds all voters that it is a criminal offence to knowingly register in a voting district in which the voter is not ordinarily a resident.
Currently there are 282 political parties registered with the Electoral Commission. There is no specific cut-off date for parties wishing to contest the 2016 municipal elections and registration is on-going.
The timelines for the nomination of candidates contesting the 2016 municipal elections will only be announced as part of the election timetable to be released upon the proclamation of the election date.
To reduce the administrative burden on parties and independent candidates, the Electoral Commission has developed an online candidate nomination process which will allow candidates to apply via the internet. This is currently in testing and will be available in time for the candidate nomination process.
