The website quotes the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) who says South Africans living abroad are not able to register for the 2014 elections until the legislation governing “out of country registration and voting” has been approved. The Bill has been approved by the National Council of Provinces and is currently before the National Assembly.
“It is hoped the Bill will be approved and enacted before the end of November. In the meantime, advance planning for the process is proceeding in conjunction with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO),” said the IEC.
In terms of the draft legislation South Africans will have to register in person at one of South Africa’s 124 high commissions, embassies or consulates located in 108 countries. They will need to be in possession of a valid South African ID document (either a green bar-coded South African ID book, a new smart ID card or a valid Temporary Identity Certificate) as well as a valid South African passport. Without one of these you will not be able to register.
According to the IEC, the Bill does not require South African citizens living abroad who are already registered as voters in South Africa to register again. They will, as five years ago, be able to cast a special vote in next year’s (2014) national election. They will, however, not be allowed to cast a vote in the provincial election. It does, however, for the first time provide for persons who are not yet registered as voters to be able to do so and have their particulars added to the national common voters roll.
The IEC said it will announce further details of the registration process for South Africans abroad on its website and via the media once the legislation has been enacted.
Meanwhile the Democratic Alliance Abroad (DA Abroad) have launched the VOTE HOME campaign to inform South Africans living overseas about voting in the 2014 national elections. For more details go to www.votehome.org.
In response to the latest developments on the Electoral Amendment Bill, DA Abroad Chairperson, Ludre Stevens, said “we’re excited about the progress made so far to allow for overseas voter registration in the 2014 elections, but until the Bill is passed, would like to encourage all South Africans to take the opportunity to register at a Municipal Electoral Office if they’re travelling back home at any point before the elections are announced. It’s also important that they have their ID books with them when travelling abroad as they won’t be able to register or vote without them.”
