Deadline for voter registration as election day is announced

Following yesterday’s (Tuesday) announcement that the national and provincial elections will be held in May, eligible voters do not have much time left as the registration window is set to close.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared May 29 as voting day.

Welcoming the announcement, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) reminds South Africans that, while the date has been set and announced, eligible voters have until Friday 23 February to register.

The later date is the anticipated day of the proclamation of the election date.

“Unregistered voters and those who need to update their address details can visit the local municipality office of the Electoral Commission or go to the online voter registration portal, registertovote.elections.org.za or reach to our chat bot on 0600 88 00 00 WhatsApp line.

“Following the proclamation of the election date, the Electoral Commission will publish the Election Timetable in the Government Gazette after consultation with the National Party Liaison Committee,” the IEC stated on Wednesday.

In his announcement, President Ramaphosa said:

“Beyond the fulfilment of our constitutional obligation, these upcoming elections are also a celebration of our democratic journey and a determination of the future that we all desire.

“I call on all South Africans to exercise their democratic right to vote, and for those campaigning to do so peacefully, within the full observance of the law. We also urge unregistered voters to use the online registration platform to register.”

IEC Deputy CEO Masego Sheburi said: “Once we finalise candidate nomination we will be able to print in the immutable window period that we have to bring ballots and make them available.”

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