As voter registrations get under way ahead of the 2024 elections, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has made it easier to register to vote using the commission’s website.
The IEC’s website is a one-stop voter information portal.
Voters can use the portal to register to vote, view or update their current voter address, find their voting station, request a special vote, or simply browse for important information such as upcoming election dates in their ward.
You can register to vote by following these steps:
- Get your ID card/book ready and go to the link registertovote.elections.org.za.
- Enter your personal information: ID number, name and surname, and cellphone number. The chief electoral officer must compile and maintain a national common voters’ roll. The personal information required is for purposes of achieving this legal requirement and will not be used for any other purpose as required by the Protection of Personal Information Act, No 4 of 2013.
- A one-time pin will be sent to your cellphone number. Insert the pin and click on “confirm pin”.
- Capture your home address. You can type your address and select from the list or enter your address and click the search button.
- Review and acknowledge your information in the voter registration summary. This page will also show you your ward and voting district.
- Tick the declaration box and then click on ID verification.
- Take a photo or upload a scan of your ID and click on continue.
- Your voter registration application has been submitted successfully. The IEC will verify the application and will notify you once it has been processed. You will receive an SMS notification.
To submit an application to register to vote, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be a South African citizen.
- Be at least 16 years old (you can only vote from age 18).
What you need to upload when using online voter registration:
- Green bar-coded ID book.
- Smart ID card.
- Temporary ID certificate.
You are only registered to vote once you have received a receipt via SMS or e-mail, or have confirmed that you are registered.
1.1-million registration transactions
Since the commission launched the online registration portal in July 2021, a total of 1.1-million registration transactions have been recorded.
The portal has experienced a hive of activity in 2023 with 52% of all transactions being recorded in the 11 months of the year.
New registrations amount to 40.6% of total online registration activity, and women are the majority of users of the online portal at 56%.
Young persons under the age of 29 indicate a strong usage level of 49.6%.
Voter registration weekend
Meanwhile, the Department of Home Affairs will be extending its operating hours for the voter registration weekend on Saturday and Sunday to provide ID services and related support to eligible voters.
The department’s operating hours will be aligned with those of the IEC, from 8am to 5pm, and the main service to be offered is ID collection and application.
Temporary identification certificates will be issued on the spot to people who have lost or misplaced their IDs.
Electoral commission CEO Sy Mamabolo has called on all adult South Africans to seize the moment by registering as voters at the weekend.
“Only those who are on the voters’ roll can have a say in the electoral outcomes next year,” Mamabolo said at a media briefing on Wednesday. – SAnews.gov.za
