Electoral Commission on voter registration for wards to be contested in municipal by-elections

Voter registration this weekend for wards to be contested in municipal by-elections on 20 January 2021

Voter registration will be held this weekend for three (3) municipal ward by-elections scheduled to take place in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces on Wednesday, 20 January 2021.

Voting stations in the wards listed below will be open this Saturday, 21 November, and Sunday, 22 November, 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.

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

The by-elections will be held under strict new COVID-19 protocols aimed at ensuring the safety of voters, election staff, party agents, observers and other stakeholders. These include implementing strict social distancing practices outside and inside voting stations along with the use of hand sanitisers as voters enter and exit the voting station.

Voters, election staff and all those entering the voting station will be required to wear a mask at all times. Voters are also encouraged to bring their own pens to mark their ballot papers, although pens will be provided and sanitized after each use.

By-election in Gauteng will be held as follows:

• Ward 43 in Ekurhuleni Municipality – EKU, with 17 738 registered voters, which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s death. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

In KwaZulu-Natal:

• Ward 11 in Nqutu Municipality – KZN242, with 5 496 registered voters, which became vacant as a result of the councillors’ party membership being terminated. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

In Mpumalanga:

• Ward 21 in Bushbuckridge Municipality – MP325, with 6 321 registered voters, which became vacant as a result of councillors’ party membership being terminated. 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 19 January 2021 between 08h00 and 17h00. Voters wishing to apply to cast a special vote can apply at their local IEC office during office hours between 4 and 8 January 2020.

Applications for special votes can also be made online via the IEC’s website, www.elections.org.za. 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.

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 under Contact Us.

For media queries:
Kate Bapela
Cell: 082 600 6386

For media interviews: Please email requests to spokesperson@elections.org.za

Election timetable for all municipal by-elections called on or before 27 November 2020 to be held on 20 January 2021

The cut-off dates for the various electoral processes for these by-elections are as follows:

• 27 November:   Notice calling the by-election on or before, and opening of nomination of candidates
• 3 December:     Certification of the voters’ roll
• 7 December:     Cut-off date and time for submission of nomination of candidates
• 8 December:     Notify party/independent nominator of non-compliance of outstanding candidate documents
• 11 December:   Cut-off date and time for party/independent to submit outstanding ward candidate documents
• 11 December:   Notices: List of and particulars pertaining to voting stations and mobile voting stations
• 14 December:   Compilation and certification of lists of candidates contesting a ward
• 14 December:   Issue certificates to candidates
• 4 January:          Opening of applications for special votes
• 8 January:          Closing of applications for special votes
• 19 January:       Special votes at voting stations and special vote home visits (08h00 to 17h00)
• 20 January:      By-election (Voting takes place at voting stations between 07h00 and 21h00)

(Note: All deadlines are at 17h00 on the date listed)