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Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System Date: 12 Nov 2008 Title: South Africans, especially youth register to vote -------------------- By Bathandwa Mbola Pretoria - Despite the wet weather, 1.6 million South Africans registered to vote at the 19 000 voter registration stations which were set up across the country at the weekend. Young people especially took note of the Independent Electoral Commission's (IEC) call to register, with 77.9 percent of all new registrations falling in the youth category. More than 3.6 million South Africans in total visited the stations to either register for the first time, re-register after a change in address or inspect their details on the voter's roll. There are now over 21.6 million South Africans on the IEC's voters' roll. "We are proud to say that this was our most successful registration drive since 2000," said IEC Chairperson Brigalia Bam on Wednesday. "The drive has far surprised our expectations and we are delighted to see the success of the weekend drive to register new voters, especially the youth, who represent a majority of the weekend registration activity at 77.9 percent," Releasing the latest statistics following the first voter registration weekend on 8 and 9 November before next year's general elections, Dr Bam said there were 105 893 new registration applications from 16 to 17 year olds and 342 639 from 18 and 19 year olds. In the 20 to 29 year age bracket, 835 447 new registrations applications were received. "It is very pressing that the young people have responded positively to our registration campaign," said Dr Bam. According to the IEC, a total 1648 189 new applications were received and 1752 596 people re-registered in a new voting district following a change of address. A further 293 871 persons re-registered in the same voting district they were registered in before. The total number of recorded visits to the registration stations thus came to 3 694 656. In the provinces, KwaZulu-Natal had the highest number of new registrations with 451 0300, followed by Gauteng with 369 623 and the Eastern Cape with 193 444. According to Dr Bam, the male registration demographic remained lower than previously. In its data, the IEC said only 765 653 males registered for the first time as compared to the 882536 women who registered. Dr Bam said while the IEC was pleased with the results of the registration weekend, it recognised that there may be people who missed the opportunity to register. The IEC will continue with a programme of targeted registration in the coming months, and eligible voters may register at municipal offices during working hours. There will be a further registration weekend planned for February next year. Eligible voters who registered over the weekend or re-registered may already verify the correctness of their new applications by visiting the IEC website at www.elections.org.za or sending their identity number per SMS to 32810. - BuaNews |
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