The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will target young voters in a voter-registration drive ahead of the 2011 municipal elections.
Voter registration is set to take place on the weekend of February 5 and 6. Depending on demand, a further registration weekend may be held.
The IEC launched its national campaign for the 2011 municipal elections at a glitzy event in Midrand on Wednesday, where IEC chairperson Brigalia Bam unveiled the 2011 municipal elections campaign logo, “Love your South Africa”.
The IEC has adopted a youthful advertising campaign in an attempt to reach young people. Some of the campaign posters unveiled on Wednesday featured variations of the IEC logo, such as “I smaak my dorp”, “Loxion [location] is lekker” and “Love your hood” written in chocolate biscuits, cereal grains or scrawled across cityscapes.
“We’ve discovered that many South Africans are already registered to vote, except for those who are turning 18,” said Bam, who conceded that attracting more young voters is a challenge for the IEC.
There are more than 23-million registered voters, and this year the IEC has set itself the target of registering 1,5-million new voters. During the national elections in 2009, the IEC registered three million voters, the majority of whom were aged between 18 and 35.
Special votes may be accommodated this year in a first for municipal elections. During national elections, special arrangements are made to allow people who are unable to make it to the polls — such as the elderly, infirm or hospitalised — to vote ahead of the election date. This year, the same courtesy may be extended to voters in the municipal election. Bam said the government is in the process of finalising regulations around special votes for these elections.
A complex operation
Pansy Tlakula, chief electoral officer of the IEC, implored South Africans who were not registered to do so now, and asked those who were already registered to ensure that they vote in the ward where they reside.
“The type of electoral system that we use for the local government elections makes these elections highly contested because every vote counts,” she said. “It is therefore imperative for voters to register where they live and to vote where they are registered.”
Since the last municipal election in 2006, there has been a 10% increase in the number of wards, from 3Â 895 to 4Â 277. The number of voting stations has increased by 6% to 20Â 868. There are also more political parties set to contest this election, up 26 to 153.
Almost 60Â 000 voter-registration officials have been trained and the IEC plans to recruit an additional 196Â 000 before voting day. The IEC’s operating budget for 2010/11 is in excess of R1-billion.
Bam said that the costs of running an election are high because of the technology used, voting and educational materials, civil programmes and the payment of electoral staff. “The price we have to pay allows us to do professional work efficiently and effectively,” said Bam. This promotes a peaceful election process.
An official date for the municipal elections has not been set. Tlakula said the IEC has set March 2 as it’s official planning date, though the elections could fall any time between then and the end of May. The date will be announced by the minister for cooperative governance and traditional affairs.
How to check if you’re registered to vote:
Call the toll-free number 0800Â 11 8000 weekdays between 8am and 5pm.
Check the website www.elections.org.za.
SMS your ID number to 32810.