Another voter’s registraion weekend in February

The Independent Electoral Commision (IEC) has announced the dates for the final voter registration period for the 2014 elections.

The final registration period will be on 8 and 9 February.

According to the commission, the decision to hold another registration drive was encouraged by the continued interest from eligible voters who are not yet registered, who have inundated the IEC call centre and social media platforms for information on further registration opportunities.

Initially, the Herald reported that during the previous voter registration period on 9 and 12 November, numerous voter registration stations in Bekkersdal were forced to shut down after residents of the area boycotted the IEC and banned Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane from the area.

The commission has announced that despite such interruptions in Bekkersdal and other parts of the country, more than 1 million new voters were added to the voters roll and 80 per cent of these were young people under the age of 30.

The commission also noted the continued challenge in raising registration levels among young people, especially those aged 18 and 19-years of age.

The commission revealed that their registration levels are the lowest of any age group standing at less than 23 per cent.

It also says that having another voter registration weekend next year, will allow time for eligible voters who have not yet applied for Identity Documents (ID)to apply at their nearest Home Affairs offices, allowing them to become potential voters.

“The February registration weekend will be the final opportunity for new voters to register and for registered voters to change their voting statuses ahead of the 2014 National and Provincial elections,” the commission said.

It is anticipated that President Jacob Zuma will proclaim the election date shortly after the registration weekend.