Whether it’s by-elections, municipal elections, or general elections, being registered to vote allows you to voice your views on how your community, city, and province are managed. You can also give input on how the country is run.
But you cannot simply appear at the polling station on voting day and cast your ballot. You have to be registered to vote beforehand. During by-elections and municipal elections, you also need to be sure you have registered at the correct voting station. The following guide should help you determine if you are registered to vote if your particulars are up-to-date, and if they are not –– how to change or update them.
How to Check Your Voting Registration Status
If your nearest voting station is like the many voting stations in South Africa, you’ll be standing in a queue for hours. You don’t want to get to the front of the queue only to find out you’re not registered to vote. This simple step-by-step guide can save you headaches and frustration by checking your voter registration status.
Check Your Voting Registration Online
The easiest way to check your voting status is to do it online. This way, if you realise your registered information is incorrect, you can go about updating from the same portal. You can follow this 2-step process to get started.
Step 1: Visit The IEC Website
The start of checking your voting registration online is to visit the IEC’s website. On the home page, you should scroll down to a section that says “My Voter Registration” or simply use this link to go directly to the section.
Step 2: Input Your ID Number
In the section titled “My Voter Registration,” input your 13-digit South African ID number. Click on the ReCaptcha, and then click check now. You will be redirected to a page with all your voting details, including the polling station where you are registered to vote or if you are registered to vote via special vote.
Check Your Voting Registration via SMS
You don’t only have to check your voter registration status online. You can also do it via SMS for R1.00.
Simply SMS your 13-digit South African ID Number to 32810. You will receive a message in response with your details.
Check Your Special Voting Status via SMS
If you have registered to vote via special vote before, you can check to see the current status of that application by SMSing your 13-digit South African ID Number to 32711.
What You Should Do if Your Details Have Changed
If you notice the details the IEC has are not up-to-date, you should make an effort to change them. Voting with incorrect particulars can be seen as voter fraud as you may artificially increase the votes in a region in which you no longer reside, especially during municipal and by-elections. To ensure you’re not on the wrong side of the IEC’s guidelines, you should update your details if you realise they no longer reflect your current address or voting district.
Step 1: Visit The Voter Registration Portal
The first step to updating your address is to visit the IEC’s voter portal.
Step 2: Login or Create a Profile
Once on the portal, navigate to the button that says “login or create a profile.” After clicking, you will be redirected to the login page. If you’ve created an online profile with the IEC before, you can enter your ID number and password associated with your account.
If you have never created a profile, scroll down and click on the link that says “To create a new profile, follow this link,” which will redirect you to create a user profile.
From there, you will be required to enter your details, including your ID number, your first name and surname, and cell phone number.
Enter the ReCaptcha, and click on “Create profile.” From there, follow the prompts to create your profile.
Step 3: Navigate to Your Address Details
After creating your profile, you will be able to access your dashboard. From there, you will need to navigate to your current address information.
You can then enter your new address information. The IEC will show you which voting station you will be registered to vote in.
If you aren’t happy with the voting station they’ve selected when you are allowed to review your ward and voting district, use the voting station finder to choose a more suitable voting station.
Then, when you’ve selected a voting station, you need to follow the prompts to confirm your address.
What To Do If You Aren’t Registered To Vote
While checking your voter registration details, you may determine you aren’t registered to vote. If that is the case, you can rectify that without going to an IEC branch. Complete the steps below to register to vote online.
Step 1: Visit The Voter Registration Portal
You don’t have to wait for an election to register to vote; you can register to vote at any time. Simply go to the voter registration portal and select the button that says “Register to vote.” The site will redirect to a screen that requires you to agree to terms and conditions. Read through the information carefully before scrolling down and clicking “I Accept the Terms of Use,” followed by “Begin Application Process.”
Step 2: Create an Account
After completing the above process, enter your 13-digit South African ID number, full name, and cell phone number.
You will be sent an OTP to the number you provide, enter the six-digit code to continue.
Step 3: Capture Your Home Address
Now you need to insert your home address. If you reside in a housing complex, enter the street address of the housing complex’s entrance as the IEC may not have the internal street address. You can then navigate to your address using the map.
Once you enter your full address, the IEC will display your voting and ward district details. If you are happy with the information, proceed. If not, use the voting station finder to select a more suitable voting station.
Step 4: Upload a Picture of Your ID
To complete your voter registration, you will need to take a picture of either your green barcoded ID, your temporary ID, or your Smart ID card. The picture should be clear, well-lit, and show pertinent details like your ID number and image. Also, the full ID must be in the frame.
If your image meets these criteria, upload the image onto the portal.
Step 5: Confirm Your Registration
The IEC will then confirm that you’ve been registered to vote, either via email or SMS.
If you have any more questions regarding your voter registration status or need assistance updating your details, you can call the IEC on 012 622 5700 for general enquiries or email them at info@elections.org.za,
