Electoral Commission calls on eligible voters to register for ward by-elections

Voter registration this weekend for wards to be contested in Municipal By-Elections on 24 July 2019

Voter registration will be held this weekend for six municipal ward by-elections scheduled to take place in the Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape provinces on Wednesday, 24 July 2019.

Voting stations in the wards listed below will be open this Saturday, 8 June and Sunday, 9 June 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.

By-elections will be held in the following wards:

Gauteng:

Ward 54 in City of Johannesburg Municipality – JHB with 19 757 registered voters which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s resignation. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

Ward 83 in City of Johannesburg Municipality – JHB with 16 142 registered voters which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s death. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

Ward 09 in City of Johannesburg Municipality – JHB with 19 224 registered voters which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s resignation. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

Ward 12 in City of Johannesburg Municipality – JHB with 19 661 registered voters which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s resignation. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

KwaZulu-Natal:

Ward 04 in Mtubatuba Municipality – KZN275 with 4 327  registered voters which became vacant as a result of the councillor’s resignation. Registration and voting will take place at the following stations:

Western Cape:

Ward 02 in Swellendam Municipality – WC034 with 3 321 registered voters which became vacant as a result the councillor’s expulsion by the MEC. 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 23 July 2019 between 08h00 and 17h00. Voters wishing to apply to cast a special vote can apply at their local IEC office during office hours between 8 to 12 July 2019.

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.

Enquries:
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 21 June to be held on 24 July 2019

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

21 June: Notice calling the by-election on or before, and opening of nomination of candidates

27 June: Certification of the voters’ roll

1 July: Cut-off date and time for submission of nomination of candidates

2 July: Notify party/independent nominator of non-compliance of outstanding candidate documents

5 July: Cut-off date and time for party/independent to submit outstanding ward candidate documents

5 July: Notices: List of and particulars pertaining to voting stations and mobile voting stations

8 July: Compilation and certification of lists of candidates contesting a ward

8 July: Issue certificates to candidates

8 July: Opening of applications for special votes

12 July: Closing of applications for special votes

23 July: Special votes at voting stations and special vote home visits (08h00 to 17h00)

24 July: By-election (Voting takes place at voting stations between 07h00 and 21h00)

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