POLITICAL NEWS - The Electoral Commission launched an online voter registration facility last week, allowing new voters to register and existing voters to update or amend their registration from the ease and convenience of their homes or elsewhere.
The system will use a number of security checks to ensure the integrity of the voters' roll. These include the use of a one-time-pin (OTP) verification and the submission of a scan or photograph of the voter's ID document.
The online registration option complements the ongoing registration at all local IEC offices and various outreach initiatives at schools and tertiary education institutions, as well as the general voter registration weekends ahead of elections.
Game changer
The Electoral Commission believes the online facility will be a game-changer in promoting voter registration, especially among young and first-time voters. The introduction of an online registration system is also a crucial part of the Electoral Commission's plans to boost voter registration despite Covid-19 ahead of the local government elections scheduled for 27 October this year.
The Electoral Commission recently rescheduled its planned voter registration weekend to 31 July to 1 August due to the third wave of the pandemic.
All 23 151 voting stations are expected to be open between 08:00 and 17:00 over that weekend to help voters register and check their registration details in person.
Agents at the IEC contact centre can also assist voters with the online facility. Phone the contact centre on weekdays from 08:00 to 17:00 on 0800 11 8000. All languages are accommodated.
'We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news'
