ActionSA wants all citizens aged 18 and over to be automatically registered to vote

JOHANNESBURG - ActionSA wants all citizens aged 18 and over to be automatically registered to vote.

The party said that voting should be compulsory and the government should sanction anyone who doesn't.

READ: Amid some disinterest, South Africans urged to take the necessary steps to register to vote

This is contained in the party’s submission to the electoral review consultation panel.

The panel, appointed in May this year, is accepting public submissions on improving the country’s electoral system.

ActionSA national chairperson, Micheal Beaumont, said that an automatic voting register would solve the issue of low voter turnout.

"Currently, 21 countries make it mandatory for citizens to vote and we believe South Africa should follow suit. The discussion about rights alone without responsibilities from our citizens has caused a situation where minorities of eligible South Africans are determining election outcomes."