President Jacob Zuma has announced that the 2016 Municipal Elections will be held on 3 August 2016. This means that all eligible voters can exercise their democratic right on this day.
The President encouraged all eligible voters, particularly the youth who would be voting for the first time, to register to be able to vote in the elections. “We urge all those who are eligible to vote, register to vote and those who have not checked their names to do so, so that together we continue to re-affirm and deepen our democracy,” said President Zuma.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said the announcement by the President allows for detailed planning by all stakeholders including the IEC, political parties, government departments, voters, the media, observers and others. “The announcement of the election date is not the official proclamation of the Municipal Elections. This is scheduled to occur later and triggers the election timetable and a range of legislated events – including the official closure of the voters’ roll for the elections,” said the IEC.
The official closure of the voters’ roll for the elections is 18 May 2016. This means eligible voters can still register and update their registration and address details at their voting stations and at the IEC’s local offices until the official proclamation. Existing voters can check whether additional address information is required by SMSing their ID number to 32810 (at a cost of R1). They will receive an SMS with the name of the voting station where they are currently registered. Voters for whom incomplete address details are currently captured will receive a second SMS urging them to visit their voting station to update their details.
How to check your voting status
Voters can also check their status by dialing *120*432# or online: www.elections.org.za or call the Contact Centre on 0800 11 8000 between 7am and 9pm. To register or to update registration and address details, voters must complete a REC1 voter registration application form and present it in person at the voting station for the voting district in which they ordinarily reside. The form is also available online on: www.elections.org.za which voters can complete online, print a copy and bring it with them to their voting station. Voters without formal addresses must complete and sign an affirmation form (REC AS) accompanying the REC 1 form in which they attest to the fact they live in the relevant voting district. In municipal elections voters may only vote where they are registered and voters are reminded that it is a criminal offence to knowingly register in a voting district in which they are not ordinarily resident.
How to find your correct voting station
- Call the Contact Centre on 0800 11 8000 between 7am and 9pm
- Dial *120*432#
- Use the Voting Station Finder App on www.elections.org.za
All those visiting a voting station should have with them a valid South African ID - either a green bar-coded ID book, a smartcard ID or a valid Temporary Identity Certificate.
- Additional information from the Independent Electoral Commission
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