SA prisoners can register this week to vote

The prisoners could register from Wednesday until Friday nationally, Maistry said.

A total of 241 correctional services centres in the county had been working with the Independent Electoral Commission to ensure the facilities were ready for registration.

“We are confident the registration process will go smoothly,” Maistry said.

He called on families and guardians to ensure offenders had their identity documents so they could register.

“This is not the first time the offenders would get an opportunity to register to vote,” Maistry said.

Western Cape electoral commission spokesman Trevor Davids said there were 11 correctional facilities in the province and prisoners could register at 35 units within these facilities.

“The electoral commission will register all applicants who present themselves for voter registration during times set up in conjunction with the officials of the correctional facility,” Davids said.

He said prisoners would be able to vote in the national and provincial elections on voting day.

“There will be no special or prior voting for prisoners. A team of voting officials will visit prisons and provide voting facilities to prisoners who are registered to vote,” Davids said.