Municipal Elections 2021: How to check where you are registered to vote

Preperations for the 2021 Municipal Elections is underway! Citizens of South Africa are therefore encouraged to check where they are registered to vote in order to make their mark this coming 1 November from 07:00 to 21:00.

How to check your registration status | Municipal Elections 2021

In order to pinpoint where you are registered, the Electoral Commission of South Africa suggests the following:

• SMS your ID number to 32810 (R1 per SMS)
• Go to the the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s official website, and enter your 13 digit id number
• Phone the Electoral Commission @ 0800 11 8000

To find your voting station, simply click on this link and enter your address, geo-coordinates, VD number or Ward ID.

Bring your own pen

The Electoral Commission of South Africa also encourages South African citizens to bring their own pen in an order to minimise the spread of COVID-19. However, if a voter forgets to bring their own pen, the Electoral Commission will provide one for them.

Other COVID-19 rules that you can expect on the day includes:

1. Wear a mask when you register and vote, as per lockdown regulations for all persons in public places. If you don’t have a mask or face cover, the election officials will refuse you entry to the voting station and you will not be able to register, or update your address, or vote.
   
   
2. Keep a distance of 1.5 m from fellow voters, election officials, party agents and observers at all times while at your voting station.
   
   
3. Wait your turn before entering the voting station as only a limited number of people may be gathered inside the venue at the same time.
   
   
4. Liquid sanitiser will be sprayed on your hands by an election official before you enter and leave the voting station.
   
   
5. Election officials will also be provided with masks and face shields to wear in line with government regulations.
   
   
6. When inking your thumbnail, election officials will check that it is dry before applying the ink, and will ask you to wait a moment before you move on to ensure that the ink has dried before your hands are sanitised on departing the voting station.
   
   
7. All voting station surfaces will be wiped with 70% alcohol disinfectant before and after use.
   
   
8. Say if it’s not okay. Politely speak up if people are too close to you, or if anyone’s behavior makes you feel uncomfortable.

What will my ballot look like?

If you are wondering who to vote for, the Electoral Commission of South Africa intoruced a ‘Know Your Ballots’ system in which you can see exactly what the ballot will look like. You can simply choose the election year (2021), Province, Municipality, Ballot Type and Ward to see a sample ballot in you area.