JOHANNESBURG - In a concerted effort to prepare for the upcoming 2024 National and Provincial Elections, the Electoral Commission of South Africa has emphasized the importance of voter registration and verification of details. This initiative comes in the wake of the Commission's second Voter Registration Weekend, which took place on February 3 and 4.

According to South African Government News Agency, the recent registration drive was a part of the preparations for the forthcoming elections. The Commission has expressed its appreciation for the thousands of South Africans who have utilized both the online facility and visited local registration stations to register, re-register, or verify their personal details. The online facility and local municipal offices will continue to provide registration and verification services until the official election date is announced by the President.

The second Voter Registration Weekend witnessed an impressive turnout, with over 99% of the 23,303 voting stations opening by 8 am, and the remaining ones operational before 8:30 am. As of 1 pm on Sunday, the Commission reported a total of 564,715 registration transactions at voting stations. Additionally, the online platform saw significant activity, with 67,200 registrations on Saturday and 34,293 on Sunday.

The Commission provided a detailed provincial breakdown of the registrations, highlighting the active participation across the country. The Eastern Cape led with 93,839 registrations, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 131,431 and Gauteng with 116,284. Other provinces, including Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape, and Western Cape, also contributed notable figures, with out-of-country registrations totaling 1,013.

The Electoral Commission reiterated the general rule for elections: voters are expected to cast their ballots at the voting station where they are registered. However, exceptions will be made for those voting outside their registered district, provided they notify the Commission by a regulated date set in the Election Timetable. The Commission will release further details regarding the notification modalities after the completion of the registration process.

The first voter registration weekend was held from November 18 to 19, 2023, marking the beginning of a series of initiatives aimed at ensuring a smooth and inclusive election process in 2024.