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22 January 2009

The Electoral Commission (IEC) confirmed today, 22 January, that the final voter registration weekend for the coming national and provincial elections will take place on Saturday, 7 February 2009 and Sunday, 8 February 2009. This will be the last registration weekend for voters to register for 2009 national and provincial elections.

The Chairperson, Dr Brigalia Bam, said 19 726 voting stations countrywide will be open from 08h00 to 17h00 to enable first-time voters to register. Voters who have changed address must re-register and voters who are already registered can check whether they are registered on the correct segment of the voters roll.

"The first registration weekend recorded an unprecedented number of new registrations totalling 1 648 189. These new registrations could not have been possible without the mobilisation of new voters by IEC officials, political parties, civil society, and the media. The 77,9% youths who formed the larger percentage of the first registration weekend of 7 and 9 November 2008, have shattered the myth that our young South Africans are not interested in electoral democracy. I am making a special call to all South Africans to go to our voting stations in numbers, especially young people," said Dr Bam.

The February voter registration weekend is the last such occasion where all South Africans who are eligible to vote in the democratic national and provincial elections can register at their local voting station.

Dr Bam said that the IEC made a commitment to upgrade the website and call centre which experienced a large number of hits and high call volumes, respectively, during the first registration weekend.

"Our website capacity has been upgraded to ensure that the supporting infrastructure can take much more traffic simultaneously in terms of bandwidth and server processing power.

"The cross-browser compatibility enhancements have been put in place, therefore our website can be accessed through most browsers. In our call centre we have increased the number of agents whose function it is to assist South Africans to locate their correct voting station or confirm the registration details of voters who are calling with a view to checking such details. Information and communication technology infrastructure that supports this facility has also been upgraded to manage the anticipated high number of calls," said Dr Bam.

South Africans who are registered and want to check their registration details can make use of the following facilities:
* Call the IEC toll free from a landline on 0800 11 8000 between 08h00 and 17h00.
* Send an SMS with their ID number to 32810 on all cell phone networks.
* Visit http://www.elections.org.za and go to 'Am I registered' or 'where do I register'.

Potential voters have to register in person and are reminded to take their green, bar-coded identity document (ID book) with them when they go to register.

For media queries please contact:
Kate Bapela
Cell: 082 600 6386

Issued by: Independent Electoral Commission
22 January 2009
Source: Independent Electoral Commission (http://www.elections.org.za)