With the date of the 2016 local government elections being announced for Wednesday, 3 August, the past weekend signalled the final voter registration weekend.
While thousands of people took the opportunity to register or update their details, far more merely accepted that their details will reflect on the voters roll because they have been voting at a certain voting station for many years.
“This is not necessarily so,” said ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge. “With people moving, voting station boundaries changing and data migration glitches, there is always the possibility that someone can drop off the voters roll, hence the opportunity created by national registration weekends to afford people the opportunity to confirm their details.”
One of the easiest methods to do so is to send an SMS with your identity number to 32810. A reply will confirm if and where you are registered.
You may receive a second SMS stating that your address details need to be updated. “As much as people might argue that their address is on record, it wasn’t a previous requirement and while they were confirmed as reflecting on the voters roll, their address wasn’t necessarily captured or updated,” said Cllr Beetge.
After a 2015 by-election in Potchefstroom where a political party bussed in support to secure victory in a ward, the Constitutional Court ruled that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) was obliged to collect addresses for everyone on the voters roll, ensuring in future they only vote where they reside.
While the court ruling is under challenge, the IEC is attempting to update addresses for the 2016 elections.
Although the election date has been announced for 3 August, it will not take effect until the date is officially gazetted, at which time the voters roll will then close.
Residents who did not take the opportunity to register or update their detail can still do so before the date is officially gazetted by taking their barcoded ID book or smart card to the Sizakala Centre in Gracedale Road in Winklespruit from Monday to Friday between 8am and 3.30pm.
For more information, contact Cllr Beetge on 082-718-8137.
