Voter registration 2016: All you need to know
With voter registration weekend a few days away (5th and 6th of March), here are important details that will come in handy for every South African.
According to the IEC, a total of 24.95 million people are currently registered to vote nationally with 5-million potential voters in KZN - this slightly lower than the number of registered voters recorded during the 2014 general elections.
Municipal elections are held every five years to elect councillors who will be responsible for the governance of municipalities for the coming five years. See the answers to all your questions below.
How and where do I register?
You can only
vote in elections if you're registered voter. Here's what is required:
1. You must be a South African citizen;
2. You must be at least 16 years old (you can only vote from age 18); and
3. You must have a green bar-coded ID book, smartcard ID, or a valid Temporary Identity Certificate.
For first-time voters, you can register during the allocated registration weekend on the 5th and 6th March at your voting district or during office hours at the local Electoral Commission office. You only have to register once. In the case that you relocate within South Africa, your voting district will change accordingly.
To check your registration details, click here.
In case you don't know your voting station, click here and search for your street address to help locate the nearest ward.
Can I use an alternative document?
No. Any other form of identification will not be accepted i.e. passports or driving licences. Only original documents will be permitted - not copies. Proof of residence is not required.
When will the
elections be held?
According to the Constitution, elections must be held within 90 days of the previous election date which was 18 May (in 2011). Therefore, the elections must be held between 18 May and 16 August 2016. The final date is yet to be confirmed by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Who is my ward councillor?
Click here to find details of your ward councillor or if you are a registered voter you can SMS your ID number to 32245 (charged at R1) and you will receive a text message of who your current ward councillor is.
Below are the registration statistics - nationally and in KZN - as at 2 March, 2016.
(File photo: Getty Images)