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VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE IS STILL ON  

If you thought it was late to register for next year's general election, well it isn’t.  The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Matlosana office, confirmed this week that following the past weekend of November 8 and 9^th dedicated drive to register South Africans for voting, they are still encouraging those people who have not registered to find out how they can still do so.   

According to Lucky Mkhabela, IEC’s Electoral Project Coordinator in Matlosana, last weekend’s voter registration drive was intended to provide eligible voters with an opportunity to register in their correct voting stations where they are residing.  Voters were also given an opportunity to find out if they were registered to vote.  “We wanted to encourage the greater community of Matlosana as part of the national drive to check their voter registration details and find out which station they would need to go to cast their votes next year,” said Mr. Mkhabela.  

Despite drizzles, people of Matlosana flocked to more than 108 voter registration stations across Matlosana to register for next year’s general elections.  Some of them visited the local IEC office to confirm their voting status. Weather conditions continued to impact on the anticipated turnout however, the local IEC office reported that the total number of re-registered and new registered voters was around 26 000. 

With the recent developments of a landslide win of US’s Presidency by Barack Obama, South Africans are encouraged to ensure that they are registered to vote next year so that they are in a position to make a difference in the outcome of South Africa’s national elections.  According to the US Embassy in Pretoria and the Statistical abstract of the United States Bureau of Census, the number of people registered to vote for the US Presidency 2008 elections was significant.  The resident population of voting age of 18 was about 231,230 million and about 125,226 million votes were cast for the new President.  Press Attaché for the Embassy, Sharon Hudson-Dean, said that they were excited about the new administration as this is a historical change for the USA.

Back home, people are advised if not sure whether they are registered to SMS their ID number to 32810 or to visit the IEC office at No. 74 Siddle Street, Debmark Building, Klerksdorp.  Alternatively visit IEC website www.elections.org.za and enter their ID number to find out if they need to register or change their details.

"If you voted at the previous election then you will still be registered, but if you have moved address then you will need to re-register and you must do this in person," he added.

The IEC specifies that to register you must be a SA citizen and must have a barcoded identity document with you or a valid temporary ID. The IEC also stipulates that you can only register to vote in the place where you are currently living. Another registration drive is planned for February. 

Mr. Mkhabela summed up the voter registration drive in Matlosana by saying: “We wish thank the people of Matlosana for their patience during last weekend’s challenging weather conditions and still turning out in numbers.  We also want to thank our stakeholders, IEC and registration staff for their commitment to service excellence in this process.”

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