How do I register?

Who can register?

You must:

• be a South African citizen;
• be at least 16 years old (you can only vote from age 18); and
• and have a green, barcoded South African identity document (ID), smartcard ID, or a valid Temporary identity certificate (TIC).

To Register within South Africa

When and where can I register?

Make an appointment to apply for registration during office hours at the local IEC office responsible for your voting district. Please always phone first to make an appointment.

Register to vote using our Online Voter Registration Service until the date of proclamation of the election. You can use our Voter Information Portal site to register to vote or update your current voter information, view your current address, request a special vote, find a voting location, view important election dates (upcoming election in your ward).

What documents do I need to apply for registration?

Whether you are registering online or in person, you must provide your South African ID, either:

• Green, barcoded ID book, or
• Smartcard ID, or
• Valid Temporary Identity Certificate (TIC).

No other forms of identification are accepted. Only original documents from the Department of Home Affairs are accepted.

What happens when I apply?

• Go to your local IEC office;
• Complete the registration form;
• Your identity document book is scanned;
• A barcoded sticker is pasted in your green ID book or on your valid Temporary Identity Certificate.
  Please note that completing the form and receiving a barcoded sticker or receipt doesn't mean that you're registered, it only means that you've applied for registration. Your application must still be processed (may take up to 7 working days).

How do I know if or where I'm registered?

To check your registration details, you can:

• send an SMS with your ID number to 32810 (R1.00 per SMS);
• download our mobile app and enter your ID number;
• Check your voter registration details;
• or check at your local IEC office during office hours.

When do I have to re-register?

We continuously strive to provide a better voting experience for voters by ensuring accessibility to voting stations and trying to reduce long queues on Election Day.

To help us achieve this, you need to re-register when:

• your home address changes (if you've moved a short distance, please see Moved since you registered? to find out how to check if your voting district has changed), or ;
• we inform you that your voting district boundaries have changed. Check your voter registration details to find out if you may have to re-register.

Important: During municipal elections and by-elections, you must vote at the voting station where you are registered, so it is important to re-register whenever you move or your voting district boundaries change.

How do I register out-of country?

Everything you need to know about registering as a voter abroad.

South African citizens who wish to vote in South Africa's next National Election must be registered to vote before proclamation of the election by the President of the Republic.

Why should you register and vote if you live abroad? Because each and every citizen has the right to vote in South Africa's elections, and the responsibility to participate in making decisions for its future. It's your democracy, own it!

Who can register to vote abroad?

To be eligible to register to vote if you live abroad, you must:

• Be a South African citizen;
• Be at least 16 years of age (you must be at least 18 to vote);
• Have a South African identity document (ID) – either a green barcoded ID book OR ID smartcard OR a valid temporary ID certificate.

Remember: By law, South Africans abroad can only vote in South Africa’s national elections; they cannot vote in the provincial elections, regional elections for National Assembly, or municipal elections.

How to register to vote abroad?

Registering to vote abroad can be done in one of two ways:

1. Register online anytime, anywhere via the Voter Registration Portal (until proclamation of the election). The portal accommodates both first-time voters abroad, as well as South Africans who have previously registered and voted in South African elections, and who now wish to vote from abroad.
2. Register in person at your nearest South African mission during the mission office hours until proclamation of election date. Click here for a full list of South Africa's missions accredited as international voting stations.

Get ready to register to vote

1. Check your current registration status at Voter Registration Portal.
2. Get your identity document (ID) ready. Eligible voters abroad are required to have a South African ID (a green barcoded ID book, ID smartcard, or valid temporary ID certificate) to register online. If you don't have an Identity Document, please apply at your nearest South African mission as soon as possible.