Government urges all eligible voters to register to vote

Government urges all eligible voters to register for the upcoming provincial and national election. The Electoral Commission of South Africa will hold its second voter registration weekend on the 3rd and 4th of February 2024 to allow all eligible voters to register to vote for the upcoming 2024 National General Elections. 

According to the Electoral Commission the voters roll after the first registration weekend held on 18 and 19 November 2023, contains 26.8 million voters with 568 374 of those registering for the first time. The Electoral Commission has also confirmed that South Africans living abroad will have an opportunity to register at South Africa’s 120 high commissions, embassies and consulates on 26, 27 and 28 January 2024.

Offenders at correctional centres will also get an opportunity to register to vote, as voter registration will also be conducted at centres around the country to allow inmates to exercise their right to vote between 30 January and 1 February 2024. The Commission has requested the family members of incarcerated inmates to deliver their identity documents to them ahead of the registration drive.

All 296 voting stations across the country will be opened between 08:00 and 17:00 during that weekend for people to register, change their registration details or verify their details. 

Citizens are eligible to register to vote if they are: 

• A South African citizen 
• At least 16 years and older (you can only vote from age 18) 
• In possession of a green bar-coded ID book, smart ID card or temporary identity certificate. 
• Those with access to internet do not have to wait for the registration weekend but can register online at https://registertovote.elections.org.za. Online voter registration has been open since 20 February 2023.  
• Registered voters can visit the Electoral Commission website (www.elections.org.za) to check their current registration details and voting station location. They can also SMS their ID number to 32810 to receive an SMS containing the address of their voting station (charged at R1).

“As we celebrate 30 years of freedom and democracy, by casting your vote later this year you are helping South Africa grow towards a brighter future. Voting puts the power in the hands of citizens and is a way for them to use their voice to bring about change, by taking action and registering to vote, citizens can strengthen, and bolster democracy based on their will”, said Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), Acting Director, Nomonde Mnukwa. 

Government appeals to citizens to register to vote or check and update their details by visiting the registration stations during this final leg of the voter registration weekend. 

Media enquiries:
Acting Government Spokesperson: Nomonde Mnukwa
Cell: 083 653 7485 

Issued by Government Communications