Most youth not registered to vote: IEC

Less than half of eligible voters under the age of 30 are currently registered to vote, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said.

Only 8.7% of eligible 18 and 19 year-olds were registered to vote, while the average registration levels of over 90 percent for older age groups, IEC chairwoman Pansy Tlakula told reporters in Centurion.

"As of 31 October 2013 there were 23 139 142 people registered to vote, representing 73.6 percent of the voting age population according to the latest census figures.

"Through its registration drive, the electoral commission hopes to increase registrations to 80 percent of the voting age population, in line with levels of previous elections, which would require an additional two million voters to register," she said.

Tlakula was briefing the media on the IEC's readiness for its registration weekend.

All 22,263 voting stations around the country would be open from 8am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday for people to register, change their registration details or verify their details.

Tlakula said Gauteng had the lowest number of registered voters, at 69.2 percent, followed by Mpumalanga, the Western Cape and North West, all at 70.3 percent.

The Free State had the highest, at 80 percent; the Eastern Cape 79.6 percent; Northern Cape 77.6 percent; Limpopo 77 percent; and KwaZulu-Natal 75 percent.