No ‘dead’ citizens will be allowed to vote, says IEC

South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has reaffirmed that only living citizens with valid ID numbers will be eligible to vote in the upcoming 4 November local government elections. IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Shiburi clarified that the commission verifies voter eligibility by cross-checking ID numbers against the national population register maintained by the Department of Home Affairs. This ensures that deceased individuals, as classified by Home Affairs, cannot vote, even if they appear alive at polling stations. The IEC also confirmed that South African citizens living overseas will not be allowed to vote in these elections while abroad. Shiburi explained that the voters’ roll is updated electronically using ID numbers, and only those confirmed as citizens by Home Affairs are added. The commission emphasized strict measures to protect the integrity of the voters’ roll ahead of the registration weekend on 20 and 21 June. IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya addressed concerns about potential election disruption from groups behind anti-illegal immigrant protests. Moepya assured parliament that the security cluster and other government departments are handling these threats, allowing the IEC to focus on ensuring smooth electoral processes. The commission reiterated its commitment to maintaining the legitimacy of the voting process despite external challenges. The briefing to parliament highlighted the IEC’s reliance on Home Affairs data to prevent fraudulent voting, including cases where individuals are listed as deceased. Shiburi noted that until Home Affairs updates a person’s status, the IEC cannot alter their classification on the voters’ roll. This system aims to eliminate any possibility of ineligible voters participating in the elections.