Out-of-country voter registration

THE sixth South African national election is set to take place in 2019 and potential voters are reminded to update their details on the voters’ roll, especially those presently overseas.

The Electoral Act 73 of 1998 gives all South African citizens the right to register and vote abroad in national elections.

To vote out-of-country, your name must appear on the voters’ roll of the Electoral Commission (IEC).

The voters’ roll contains the identity numbers, full names and addresses of voters.

This is an important tool to protect against electoral fraud by ensuring that citizens vote in their correct voting district and only vote once.

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Where to register

Voter registration for all South African citizens, including those who live outside out of the country, is continuous, meaning that voters can register or re-register at any time.

For citizens who live ‘abroad’ to register as a voter, they must present themselves in person at their nearest South African mission, which includes embassies, consulates and high commissions, together with their valid South African identity document (ID), as well as a valid South African passport.

A full list of South Africa’s missions is available on the website of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) at //www.dirco.gov.za/webmissions/index.html.

Register intention to vote

Citizens based out-of-country who are already registered to vote, either on the national or international segment of the voters’ roll, need not re-register to vote before the 2019 national election.

However, to be eligible to vote out-of-country, voters will have to inform the Chief Electoral Officer of the IEC via the completion of an online VEC 10 of their intention to do so and by indicating the mission at which they will be voting.

The online VEC10 will only be available on the website at www.elections.org.za from the date that the 2019 national election is proclaimed and only for a 15-day period.

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