Many young voters not registered

[LazyLion]

Less than half of eligible voters under the age of 30 are currently registered to vote, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said on Wednesday.

Only 8.7 percent of eligible voters were aged between 18 and 19, compared to the average registration levels of over 90 percent for older age groups, IEC chairwoman Pansy Tlakula told reporters in Centurion.

"As of 31 October 2013 there were 23,139,142 people registered to vote, representing 73.6 percent of the voting age population according to the latest census figures.

"Through its registration drive, the electoral commission hopes to increase registrations to 80 percent of the voting age population, in line with levels of previous elections, which would require an additional two million voters to register," she said.

Tlakula was briefing the media on the IEC's readiness for its registration weekend.

All 22,263 voting stations around the country would be open from 8am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday for people to register, change their registration details or verify their details.

Tlakula said Gauteng had the lowest number of registered voters, at 69.2 percent, followed by Mpumalanga, the Western Cape and North West, all at 70.3 percent.

The Free State had the highest, at 80 percent; the Eastern Cape 79.6 percent; Northern Cape 77.6 percent; Limpopo 77 percent; and KwaZulu-Natal 75 percent.


Source : Sapa /gq/hdw/jk/cls
Date : 06 Nov 2013 11:51

 

[Sonic2k]

Through its registration drive, the electoral commission hopes to increase registrations to 80 percent of the voting age population, in line with levels of previous elections, which would require an additional two million voters to register," she said.

Another two million votes for the cANCer yes...

 

[vicv]

Well, you know the rules, if you didn't vote, you're not allowed to complain about the ruling party.

 

[Compton_effect]

Last week I had a devil of a time explaining to my handyman/gardener why not voting is a bad idea.

 

[Zewp]

Last week I had a devil of a time explaining to my handyman/gardener why not voting is a bad idea.

The sad part is he's likely still not going to vote.

 

[vicv]

Last week I had a devil of a time explaining to my handyman/gardener why not voting is a bad idea.

I recently spoke to a truck driver at my workplace regarding the same issue. He is in his late 20s and has never voted. He just said that it doesn't matter who you vote for, the ruling party is going to be corrupt.

 

[cr@zydude]

It's such a waste not to vote. In SA, every vote actually counts. There are many parties out there, and most likely you can find one which suits you. No matter where you are, or who the people in your area vote for, your vote still counts. We have 400 seats in parliament, that means that a party only needs 0.25% of the vote to get a seat. In the last election, the difference between a party getting a seat and not was only 6 120 votes.

 

[Ockie]

That reminds me ... I must go re-register this weekend in my new area.

 

[Guantanamo]

I want to register but the timing is just so wrong for me. Writing exams now and then not going to be in town to register this weekend. I'm sure many students are in the same position. If I can register after this weekend then I will but I haven't done the research to see if I can (Can I?)

The IEC could do a lot to change this. Mobile registration offices taken to Universities, making or allowing people to register when they receive their ID books etc. Nothing particularly difficult or revolutionary. Just make it easier for people to do so.

 

[Sysem]

I want to register but the timing is just so wrong for me. Writing exams now and then not going to be in town to register this weekend. I'm sure many students are in the same position. If I can register after this weekend then I will but I haven't done the research to see if I can (Can I?)

The IEC could do a lot to change this. Mobile registration offices taken to Universities, making or allowing people to register when they receive their ID books etc. Nothing particularly difficult or revolutionary. Just make it easier for people to do so.

This.

I'm finally able to vote after missing the last election by a few months, I'm finding it unnecessarily stressful to register, let alone vote. There are only 2 days to register, and its the weekend straight after my exams - so I've had plans for a few months now. Why isn't there a quick and painless method to do this?

 

[Priapus]

That reminds me ... I must go re-register this weekend in my new area.

Taking my brother with me this weekend too. Registering in the new town we are in. So refuses to vote though.

 

[MKFrost]

Excuse my ignorance but why do one need to register?

Surely if you are a citizen, you have your ID then you should be allowed to vote, registered or not. Why this whole registration thing?

Only reason I can think off is that your registration information is checked against home affairs and by doing so they ensure that there are no ghost voters etc.......

I did check the IEC site but cannot find a reason why one must register so please enlighten me.

 

[Zewp]

Yeah, I also find it surprising that we have to register to vote first.

 

[LazyLion]

Excuse my ignorance but why do one need to register?

Surely if you are a citizen, you have your ID then you should be allowed to vote, registered or not. Why this whole registration thing?

Only reason I can think off is that your registration information is checked against home affairs and by doing so they ensure that there are no ghost voters etc.......

I did check the IEC site but cannot find a reason why one must register so please enlighten me.

That's exactly it. They just verify your ID. That is pretty much all. Registered means verified.
Saves time on voting day.

 

[MKFrost]

That's exactly it. They just verify your ID. That is pretty much all. Registered means verified.
Saves time on voting day.

Thanks, thought as much. Guess we must not complain. At least its a once of thing unless you move etc...

 

[koeks525]

Well I registered last year, IEC came to my high school to register students. I just need to move my voting station it seems. I am sure if everyone who could vote, voted, it would make quite the difference.

 

[krycor]

That reminds me ... I must go re-register this weekend in my new area.

Got the problem that I am moving before elections so hopefully the okes at the new area let me register there. I'll just lie about where I stay hahaha otherwise i'm gonna have to drive far to vote come next year

 

[krycor]

Excuse my ignorance but why do one need to register?

Surely if you are a citizen, you have your ID then you should be allowed to vote, registered or not. Why this whole registration thing?

Only reason I can think off is that your registration information is checked against home affairs and by doing so they ensure that there are no ghost voters etc.......

I did check the IEC site but cannot find a reason why one must register so please enlighten me.

That and it caters for the distribution of supplies on voting day in addition to the fact that your local/ward + provincial vote has impact on the area your vote in. So if you in the wrong province you basically are only allowed to vote for the national gov, much like when voting whilst out of the country(not sure if they allow that anymore)

 

[^^vampire^^]

Got the problem that I am moving before elections so hopefully the okes at the new area let me register there. I'll just lie about where I stay hahaha otherwise i'm gonna have to drive far to vote come next year

That's the stupid thing about this, only 2 days to register and I'm not available for either of them, just like I wasn't 4 years ago either so have to miss 2 elections.

 

[Park@82]

Link to check if you are: https://www.elections.org.za/content/For-voters/My-voter-registration-details/

/Im still registered from the previous time