Over the weekend over 50 000 Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) officials were assigned to process voter registration during the 2016 national voting registration. While the IEC has increased the number of voting stations around the country, the impact of added voting stations, on reducing the number of unregistered eligible voters, is yet to be confirmed.

Provincial Electoral Officer and head of the IEC in the Western Cape, Courtney Sampson, stated that he thought that the registration process, “logistically and operationally, went well”

Sampson explained that he is unable to provide “numbers” at this stage as analysis is taking place.

He further noted that at two voting stations IEC staff was unable to register voters due to community protests. Sampson explained that the IEC will “look after that community some time later.”

The last station to close its doors, closed at 19:00 on Sunday, in order to accommodate late registration. Sampson asserted that the IEC officials “did a fantastic job.”

He urged individuals who are 16 years and older that have not registered to register at the nearest IEC office.

Voters are required to produce one of the following: Green, bar-coded ID book, Smartcard ID, Temporary ID certificate. No other forms of identification are accepted.

To locate the nearest IEC office, call: 0800 11 8000

VOC (Thakira Desai)