Pretoria, South Africa – expatriates who are registered to vote outside of South Africa and have their names on the voters’ roll of a specific country do not need to inform the Commission’s Chief Electoral Officer of their intention to vote in that country. The announcement, made during a media briefing in Pretoria, clarifies the voting procedures for South African citizens residing abroad. The Commission’s Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, explained that the law presumes these voters will cast their ballots at the diplomatic mission where they are registered.
According to South African Government News Agency, for those registered in a different location, including voters registered within South Africa who wish to vote at a specific diplomatic mission abroad, they are required to notify the Chief Electoral Officer of their intention to vote outside of the country. This notification can be made starting today until 22 April 2024, through an online facility (VEC10) available on the Commission’s website.
Mamabolo also detailed that special voting at diplomatic missions is scheduled for either Friday, 17 May 2024, or Saturday, 18 May 2024. The specific date for each mission will be decided based on the dominant religious and cultural practices of the host country.
Addressing the issue of voting outside of one’s registered voting station on Election Day, 29 May 2024, the Commission emphasized the general principle that voters should cast their ballots where they are registered. However, if a voter intends to be in a different voting district on Election Day, they must inform the Commission of their absence from their registered voting district and the station where they plan to vote. A notification portal for this purpose will be launched soon, with notifications closing on 17 May 2024.