The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) and Department of Correctional Services have urged families of inmates to deliver their identity documents (ID) to correctional centres, in preparation for the nationwide inmate’s voter registration week.
The inmate’s voter registration week is scheduled for 30 January to 1 February 2024, ahead of the national and provincial elections.
The IEC said it acknowledged that many offenders do not keep ID documents in their possession and it is for this reason family members are requested to make the necessary arrangements to deliver any of the following forms of identification: green-barcoded ID, smartcard ID or temporary identification certificate (TIC) to correctional facilities.
ALSO READ: Matric Exams | Inmates achieve over 90 per cent pass rate.
In a statement issued on Friday, the commission noted that due to the transfer factor for inmates, correctional centres will also be accepting IDs for inmates serving sentences in distant towns or provinces.
“These identity documents will be transferred to the relevant facilities where inmates are incarcerated,” the IEC statement read.
Furthermore, the Department of Correctional Services has indicated that it will put the necessary measures in place to ensure that IDs are kept safe.
Eligible inmates will be permitted to apply for voter registration under the voting district where their home address falls.
