POLITICS

Voters' roll closes at midnight February 25 - IEC

Commission says eligible voters can still register at Municipal Electoral Offices before then

Just 24 hours left to register to vote ahead of tomorrow's proclamation

24 Feb 2014

Eligible voters who have not yet registered to vote in the 7 May national and provincial elections have just 24 hours left to do so at their Municipal Electoral Office before the voters' roll closes at midnight tomorrow Tuesday 25 February 2014. President Jacob Zuma announced on Friday that he and the nine provincial Premiers would proclaim the national and provincial elections tomorrow signaling the official start of the Election Timetable - beginning with the closing of the voters' roll for the elections.

A list of municipal electoral offices is available at www.elections.org.za or call 0800 11 8000.

Anticipating a last minute rush, Chief Electoral Officer Mosotho Moepya said the IEC would deploy additional staff to its local offices and would ensure all eligible voters who are in the queue at 5pm tomorrow were given a chance to register. Eligible voters need to take their ID with them - either a green barcoded ID book, a new smartcard ID or a Temporary ID Certificate which is available from the Department of Home Affairs.

Following proclamation, the Electoral Commission will consult with the National Party Liaison Committee on an Election Timetable. The timetable will be published in an extraordinary Government Gazette on Wednesday, 26 February 2014. The Election Timetable sets the dates for key activities for voters and contestants in the run-up to the elections including the deadlines for the submission of candidate lists by parties, the application for special votes and notifications to vote outside of the country.

People who are registered outside the Republic need to complete the VEC 10 form online at www.elections.org.za to indicate where they intend voting. The form will be available from tomorrow until 12 March 2014.

A comprehensive Election Timetable will also be available on www.elections.org.za

Voters who need more information on the upcoming elections, such as confirmation of their registration details and voting station locations, should contact the IEC Call Centre (toll free on a landline) on 0800 11 8000 or visit the IEC website at www.elections.org.za. Voters who want to know whether they are registered and where they should vote can also send an SMS with their ID number to 32810.

Statement issued by Kate Bapela, Independent Electoral Commission, February 24 2014

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