Electoral Commission on voter registration weekend for municipal ward by-elections

Voter registration this weekend for wards to be contested in Municipal By-elections on 18 January 2022

Voting stations in the wards listed below will be open this Saturday, 12 November 2022, and Sunday, 13 November 2022, from 08h00 to 17h00 to allow all eligible voters to register and for current voters to check their registration details and to provide/update address details where necessary.

Voters should take their identity document (ID) with them – either a green barcoded ID book, a smartcard ID, or a valid Temporary ID Certificate. They will also need to complete their physical home address on registration or provide sufficient particularities of their place of residence. Documented proof of address (e.g. a municipal account) is not required.

Voters may also check and update their details at their local (municipal) Electoral Commission (IEC) office weekdays during office hours, or online at https://registertovote.elections.org.za(link is external).

Voters are reminded that it is a criminal offence to register and vote in a ward in which they are not ordinarily resident.

By-elections will be held in the following wards:

KwaZulu-Natal

Ward 28 Msunduzi – KZN225, with 9 015 registered voters, which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s party membership being terminated.Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

Ward 12 Dannhauser – KZN254, with 3 749 registered voters, which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s resignation. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

Ward 09 Mtubatuba – KZN275, with 4 400 registered voters, which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s resignation . Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

Special voting will take place at voting stations as well as through home visits on 17 January 2022 between 08h00 and 17h00. Voters wishing to apply to cast a special vote can apply at their local IEC office during office hours between 12 December and 15 December 2022.

Applications for special votes can also be made online via the IEC’s website, www.elections.org.za(link is external). Once voters have applied online they will receive an SMS notifying them of the outcome when their application has been processed. They can also check the status of their special vote application online at www.elections.org.za(link is external).

Voters can also apply for special votes via cellphone by SMSing their identity number to 32249 (charged at R1). The SMS application facility is only available for those applying to cast a special vote at their voting station and NOT for home visits.

For more information on these by-elections contact your local (municipal) IEC office weekdays during office hours. Contact details for all IEC offices are available on the IEC website at www.elections.org.za(link is external) under Contact Us.

Although South Africa no longer has COVID-19 restrictions in place, the Electoral Commission will continue to provide the following to safeguard voters and electoral staff:

•             Face masks for voluntary use by electoral staff

•             Sanitizers at voting stations and home visits

Voters are no longer required to wear masks or face coverings within a voting station, although they may continue to do so at their discretion. Similarly, voters are no longer required to sanitise their hands on entry to voting stations, but may do so if they wish.

Media enquiries:

Kate Bapela

Cell: 082 600 6386

For media interviews: Please email requests to spokesperson@elections.org.za(link sends e-mail)

Election timetable for all Municipal By-Elections called on or before 18 November to be held on 18 January 2023

The cut-off dates for the various electoral processes for these by-elections are as follows: (Note: All deadlines are at 17h00 on the date listed)

18 November 2022          Notice calling the by-election on or before, and opening of nomination of candidates

21 November 2022          Open inspection voters’ roll for objections

28 November 2022          Close inspection voters’ roll for objections

02 December 2022           Electoral Commission to decide on objections to voters’ roll

05 December 2022           Certification of voters’ roll

05 December 2022           Cut-off date and time for submission of nomination of candidates

06 December 2022           Cut-off date to notify party/independent nominator of non-compliance of outstanding candidate documents

09 December 2022           Notices: List of and particulars pertaining to voting stations and mobile voting stations

09 December 2022           Cut-off date for party/independent nominator to submit ID copy and/or signed Acceptance of Nomination

12 December 2022           Opening of applications for special votes

12 December 2022           Compilation and certification of lists of candidates contesting a ward

12 December 2022           Issue certificates to candidates

15 December 2022           Closing of applications for special votes

17 January 2023 Special votes at voting stations and special vote hone visits, 08h00 to 17h00

18 January 2023 By-election date

Source: Government of South Africa