WITHIN five hours of the registration process getting underway across the network of 23 303 voting stations nationwide, the commission reports a seamless start with over 99% of stations operational within minutes of the commencement time.
This was said by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) during a media briefing in Tshwane on Saturday, 3 February giving an update on the progress made within hours of voter registrations across the country.
The IEC said in the initial hours of this two-day registration weekend, an impressive 304 221 voters visited voting stations and of these, 55 019 were people who registered for the first time.
Deputy chief electoral officer, Masego Shiburi said this early turnout not only sets a positive tone for the registration period, but also serves as a testament that citizens remain engaged with affairs of their country.
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She extended their sincere appreciation to the citizens of this great nation for their enthusiastic participation.
“Whether you are a first-time participant or a seasoned voter, we encourage all South Africans to seize this historic moment by registering and casting their votes in the forthcoming elections.
“Today alone, the online voter registration portal recorded over 20 325 and 7 234 of this are new voter registration transactions. We urge voters who may have had a less than pleasant experience using the online platform to try again. The online portal remains available 24 hours a day until the day the elections are proclaimed,” she said.
“The commission encourages all eligible voters to seize the remaining hours of this registration weekend to actively participate in shaping the future of our nation, whether online or at registration stations.”
