It also unveiled measures aimed at ensuring that the personal details of about 18-million citizens who already registered to vote, were correct.
At the centre of these efforts was a registration weekend on November 8 and 9, when all 16 799 voting stations countrywide would be open, said chief electoral officer Pansy Tlakula.
This was nearly 2000 stations more than the 15 000 used in municipal elections three years ago - a move aimed at boosting voter numbers by eliminating access barriers.
The new polling stations were mostly in rural and under-developed areas.
IEC chairperson Brigalia Bam said a targeted voter registration programme was underway in the new voting districts and areas with low registration figures.
The programme, running until late October, entailed door-to-door house visits and registration at local community gatherings.
University and technikon residences were also being targeted.
All South Africans had to be registered as voters in those districts where they normally resided.
People living in the newly established voting districts, as well as those who moved house since last registering, had to update their details with the IEC.
Apart from the specially designated weekend, prospective voters could register or update their details at their municipal electoral office between 8am and 5pm any weekday.
Bam officially launched an IEC call centre, which registered voters could phone toll-free to check their details.
It would also assist those who need to find out where to register. The number is 0800-11-8000.
The call centre was operational from 8am to 8pm, and was able to assist customers in all 11 official languages.
It could handle 250 000 calls at once, Tlakula said. Registered voters could also examine their details on the IEC's website.
Tlakula said the IEC had recruited some 99,4% of the staff it needed for the registration process - a total 50 271 of a required 50 604.
About 39% of the group were unemployed people.
All registration staff were paid a stipend of R500.
The IEC would need about 250 000 staff for elections, Tlakula said.
The IEC was registering all South Africans 16 and older, although only those who had turned 18 by voting day would be on the roll.
Prisoners were also being registered.
Tlakula said some 17,9-million South Africans were already registered to vote.
Statistics SA estimated there were 27-million eligible voters in the country.
No election date had yet been set, and Bam said the IEC hoped to have discussions with the government on this matter soon.
In terms of the Constitution, the poll had to be held by September 2, next year.
Most of the election preparations would be paid for from the IEC's budget for this year, which totalled R650-million.
Another R430-million would be available in the next financial year.
Bam said the IEC would not seek additional funds from the government. – Sapa.
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