Electoral Commission Announces Final Dates For Voter Registration

The Electoral Commission of South Africa announced the dates for the second and final voter registration ahead of 2024 national and provincial elections.

The electoral commission said the Voter Registration Weekend will be held on Feb. 3 and 4 to register new voters, while existing voters can verify and, if needed, update their details.

The 23,296 voting stations across the country will remain open on the above-mentioned dates from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The electoral commission noted that the department was "hopeful that the second registration weekend will build on and surpass the satisfactory turnout recorded in November," recalling that over two million South Africans registered online to vote during the first registration weekend held on Nov. 18 and 19.

According to the commission, all South Africans aged 16 or older are eligible to register themselves to vote if they have a South African green barcoded identity document (ID) book, a smartcard ID or a valid temporary ID certificate.

"When registering, voters will need to provide their address or a description of where they live to allow the Electoral Commission to place them on the correct segment of the voters' roll. However, proof of an address is not a requirement to register as a voter," the commission added.

South Africans living abroad can also register with the country's 120 high commissions, embassies and consulates from Jan. 26 to Jan. 28. They can also use the online platform for self-registration by capturing their details and uploading a scanned image of their identity document.

In addition, voter registration will also be conducted in correctional centers around the country between Jan. 30 and Feb. 1, 2024, to allow inmates to exercise their right to vote.

Registered voters can visit the electoral commission's official website to check their current registration details and voting station location. They can also SMS their ID to 32810 to get the details.

Citizens can also call the electoral commission's contact center, which can be reached on 0800 11 8000 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. during weekdays, with queries and information about the registration process and information related to location of voting station.

The electoral commission also urged all the political parties, aspirant independent candidates, government departments and entities alongside the media and civil society organizations, including labor, business, NGOs, religious-based organizations and traditional leaders to encourage citizens to register themselves to vote in the upcoming elections.

The general elections, which are expected to be held in the first half of 2024, will mark the seventh election in the country since the end of the apartheid era in 1994. During the elections, the ruling African National Congress party will be locking horns with opposition parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters party and the Democratic Alliance.