The Electoral Commission is pleased to report that Day One of the registration weekend has gone well, with a high turnout.
At the close of registration today, a total number of 488 670 had registered at our 23 151 voting stations for the forthcoming Municipal Elections.
The use of the new Voter Management Devices means the reported transactions are already processed into the voters roll with corresponding addresses. Previously, there would have been a need to capture addresses and do a national population verification procedure.
The Commission applauds thousands of South Africans who have gone online and visited our registration stations to register, re-register or check their details.
The Commission is also happy to report that more than 99 percent of our registration stations opened on time and remained operational. Problems at majority 53 of the stations which could not open on time were resolved with the help of the police and local leaders. The bulk of the problems raised by the communities were related to service delivery.
The high turnout on Day One led to pressure on the Commission’s information technology systems, in particular our new Voter Management Devices (VMDs), which developed a glitch in the mapping functionality.
We assure voters that the minor glitches experienced on Day One will be resolved by the morning. The process is expected to run even more smoothly for Day Two.
The Commission thanks South Africans who came out today in their large numbers and urges those who have not registered to do so on Day Two, Sunday 19 September 2021.
We also remind potential voters that the online system which today captured 29 000 voters, will remain open until the date of proclamation of the elections which we expect on Monday, 20 September 2021.
For media queries:
Kate Bapela
Cell: 082 600 6386
For media interviews: Please email requests to spokesperson@elections.org.za
