IEC: Elections to be held in May

The IEC briefed the media on Wednesday to give an update on voter readiness for next year’s national elections. 

“The national and provincial elections must be held between the 7 May and 5 August 2019. The commission held an engagement with the president with preparation and planning of the elections during the month of August. Subsequent to that, the president announced his intention to hold elections before the end of May. Which now has narrowed that the election will take place in May. And as we normally do it on a public holiday on a Wednesday. It will be one of those Wednesday within the month of May, after the 7 May,” said IEC chairperson Glen Mashinini. 

The IEC confirmed it has also made significant progress in recording addresses on the voters roll.

The commission has requested an extension from the Constitutional Court after it missed the June deadline to comply with legislation that required addresses to be recorded on the voters roll. 

“We also had 7.9 million people who did not have an address in 2016. That number has been reduced to 1.6million by the end of October. We have made significant progress,” explained IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo.

The final voter registration weekend has been set aside for the end of January.

It will take place between the 26-27 of January, and stations will be open between 8am-5pm in 22 932 stations across the country.

Dates for the registration of voters living abroad are yet to be confirmed.

“Registration weekend is also being planned for voters living outside the republic at the 120 high commission embassies and consulates. The commission will in due course announce dates once final arrangements have been concluded with the Department of International Relations and Corporation,” Mamabolo added.