First time South African voters can now register to vote online and existing voters can now update their personal details on the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC’s) online voter registration facility.

The IEC sees this to be a game-changer in promoting voter registration, especially among young and first-time voters.

On Tuesday, the IEC launched the second phase of its online voter registration facility, to allow all eligible voters to register and update their details using a computer, smart mobile device or tablet.

Last week the IEC rescheduled its planned voter registration weekend – July 31 to August 1 – owing to the third wave of the pandemic.

The IEC said the introduction of an online registration system is a crucial part of the Commission’s plans to boost voter registration, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, ahead of the local government elections, scheduled for October 27.

The Commission said research and engagements over the years with young, eligible voters to better understand their behaviour, have frequently identified the lack of online voter registration as a key obstacle.

This online voter registration facility is part of the Electoral Commission’s on-going commitment to provide greater accessibility and convenience to voters.

This phase follows the implementation of a range of other digital service channels over the past 5 years including online candidate nominations, online special vote applications and online party funding declarations.

The first phase was the introduction of an online service known as “Click, Check, Confirm” ahead of the 2019 National and Provincial Elections through which existing voters were able to check and amend their registration.

More than 350 000 voters have made use of this system since its introduction.

“The Electoral Commission hopes that providing a facility whereby voters can register, check and update their registration details without having to visit an IEC office or a voting station will serve to minimise congestion and maximise registration. Due to the 24/7 nature of online registration, it will also allow voters to register and update their registration details up to the last possible moment ahead of proclamation. Proclamation has the effect of sealing the voters’ roll for purposes of an impending election,” said the IEC.

The Electoral Commission will promote the use of the online registration facility through its communication and education campaign currently underway across a range of media.