TALKS OF ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Glen Mashinini, is hopeful that the 2021 Local Government Elections will take place in free and fair conditions.

Mashinini told MPs on Tuesday, 14 July 2020, that the COVID-19 pandemic remained a risk as IEC prepares for the 2021 municipal elections.

The Local Government Elections are elections to vote for a Ward Councilor and Mayor and must be held on a Wednesday from 4 August to 1 November next year, 2021.

“We remain ever hopeful that the (coronavirus) pandemic will be behind us or will be under control so that the elections can take place.” said Mashinini.

Mashinini told MPs that voter registration would form a key part of the 2021 municipal election preparation, with first-time voters and the youth being targeted. There’s also talks of online voter registration to cut costs.

“We should in the course of this year launch and announce an online voter registration platform that will facilitate remote registration by voters,” said IEC deputy chief executive Masego Sheburi.

The IEC’s planning is based on the estimated 23 200 voting districts. Kaalfontein, Allandale and Ebony Park (KAE) has 5 voting districts namely Ebony Park Primary School, Ponelopele Oracle Secondary School, Umqhele Secondary School, Drake Koka and Lesedi Laka Primary Schools.

January 2021 will mark the start of the recruitment and training of 58,000 electoral staff for voter registration events, and 207,000 for voting day.