The Electoral Commission appeals to all eligible voters to make use of the final weekend registration this Saturday 8 February and Sunday, 9 February to register and/or to verify their registration for this year’s upcoming national and provincial elections.

Since the last registration weekend held in November 2013, the Electoral Commission has focused substantial energy in increasing the opportunity for all South Africans who are eligible to vote to apply to register as voters. Two voter registration weekends were conducted on 17-19 January 2014 and 24-26 January 2014 at South Africa’s 123 missions in 108 countries around the world. Voter registration remains open during working hours of the missions. For purposes of the 2014 National and Provincial Elections, South African citizens abroad have been encouraged to ensure that their applications are received by close of business on Friday, 7 February 2014.

To date we have received 3 703 applications for registration from about 70 missions. We are still receiving more each day and processing these. The highest number of applications have come from London, Dubai and Cuba.

Our efforts have also been directed to prisoners who are also afforded the right to vote by our Constitution and election legislation.

Registration in South Africa’s 235 correctional facilities began on 5 February.

For the rest of the South African population that is eligible to vote, all 22 263 voting stations throughout the country will be open from 8am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, 8 and 9 February. This is the last weekend during which the voters can apply to register to vote for the 2014 National and Provincial elections if they have not already done so.

As of today, overall registration stands at 24.1 million. This is 76.7% of the estimated voting age population which, according to Stats SA is 31.4 million. This includes just over 1 million new voters who were added to the voters’ roll during the previous registration weekend held in November 2013.