More than 80% of eligible voters not registered are under 30 years old‚ election officials said on Thursday‚ announcing that the youth of South Africa is the focus of the 2016 Municipal Elections campaign.
“A key focus of the campaign is encouraging first-time voters to register and participate. The Electoral Commission statistics for registration show that voter registration currently stands at 24.98 million against a voting age population currently estimated at about 34.1 million by Statistics South Africa‚” the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said in a statement.
“Of the approximately 9.1 million eligible voters who are not currently registered‚ more than 80% are under 35 years old.”
IEC CEO Mosotho Moepya told a news briefing in Johannesburg that a voter registration weekend would be held on March 5-6.
He said 50‚000 electoral officials had been hired to serve voters.
An estimated 22‚600 voting stations would be set up for this year’s elections.
The current five-year term of municipal councils ends on 17 May 2016. This means that in terms of the Constitution‚ the municipal elections must be held between 18 May 2016 and 16 August 2016.
The date of the elections will only be known later this year when it is proclaimed by the new Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA)‚ David van Rooyen.
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 ongoing‚ the IEC said.
For the registration weekend‚ all voting stations will open from 8am to 5pm.
Voting in a municipal election is only allowed at the voting district in which voters are registered.
Voters can check their correct voting station by:
- Calling the Electoral Commission Contact Centre on 0800 11 8000 between 7am and 9pm weekdays.
- Contacting electoral officials via Twitter (@IECSouthAfrica) and Facebook (IECSouthAfrica)
- Utilising the voting station finder app on the IEC website at www.elections.org.za
- Cellphone dialing *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.
Young South Africans targeted in voter drive
More than 80% of eligible voters not registered are under 30 years old‚ election officials said on Thursday‚ announcing that the youth of South Africa is the focus of the 2016 Municipal Elections campaign.
“A key focus of the campaign is encouraging first-time voters to register and participate. The Electoral Commission statistics for registration show that voter registration currently stands at 24.98 million against a voting age population currently estimated at about 34.1 million by Statistics South Africa‚” the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said in a statement.
“Of the approximately 9.1 million eligible voters who are not currently registered‚ more than 80% are under 35 years old.”
IEC CEO Mosotho Moepya told a news briefing in Johannesburg that a voter registration weekend would be held on March 5-6.
He said 50‚000 electoral officials had been hired to serve voters.
An estimated 22‚600 voting stations would be set up for this year’s elections.
The current five-year term of municipal councils ends on 17 May 2016. This means that in terms of the Constitution‚ the municipal elections must be held between 18 May 2016 and 16 August 2016.
The date of the elections will only be known later this year when it is proclaimed by the new Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA)‚ David van Rooyen.
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 ongoing‚ the IEC said.
For the registration weekend‚ all voting stations will open from 8am to 5pm.
Voting in a municipal election is only allowed at the voting district in which voters are registered.
Voters can check their correct voting station by:
- Calling the Electoral Commission Contact Centre on 0800 11 8000 between 7am and 9pm weekdays.
- Contacting electoral officials via Twitter (@IECSouthAfrica) and Facebook (IECSouthAfrica)
- Utilising the voting station finder app on the IEC website at www.elections.org.za
- Cellphone dialing *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.
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