SA citizens can register to vote while overseas

THE upcoming elections will be the first time South Africans living and travelling abroad will be able to register to vote while overseas and the Independent Election Commission has announced that this process has been opened.

In the 2009 election‚ only already-registered South Africans abroad could cast their votes. However the Electoral Amendment Act 2013 gave all South Africans the right to register and vote abroad in national elections‚ though they will not be able to cast a provincial vote.

DA director of strategic markets Marike Groenewald‚ who is leading the party’s campaign to mobilise its supporters abroad‚ believes more voters will vote this year than in 2009 because they will now be able to register.

“There were a lot of people who were not registered in 2009 who wanted to vote.”

Those wishing to register as voters can apply in person at a South African embassy‚ high commission or consulate during office hours until February 7.

The outcome of their application can be determined by checking the IEC’s election website seven working days after making the application.

South Africans wanting to register must have both a South African passport and a South African identity document.

“To vote in South Africa’s 2014 elections you must be a registered voter. If you are already registered to vote in South Africa‚ you don’t have to re-register‚” the IEC said.

There will also be two special weekends dedicated to registration‚ on January 18 and 19‚ and January 25 and 26.

Groenewald said the requirement that applicants have a valid ID as well as a passport could prove a constraint as many people either did not have them or had left them in South Africa.

Also, the process of registration was long and complicated.

The IEC announcement said that once registered‚ voters abroad will have to complete a form online that will be available only once the election date has been proclaimed.

This form must be submitted within 15 days of the proclamation date.

The form will inform the IEC of the voter’s intention to vote abroad and indicates at which embassy‚ high commission or consulate the person will vote. The IEC will then contact voters via e-mail or text message to let them know if they qualify to vote abroad.

Those who plan to be abroad on election day and want to vote in South Africa a few days beforehand can apply for a special vote at their municipal electoral office.