South African expats now eligible to vote
South African citizens living overseas will be given their first-ever chance to register abroad to vote in the upcoming national elections this year.
Previously, only expats who had already registered in South Africa were able to vote. South Africans overseas still cannot vote in provincial elections.
To register, citizens can go to any one of South Africa’s 124 embassies, high commissions or consulates-general around the world. They will need a valid identity document and a passport in order to register. South Africans living overseas, but who have registered to vote in previous elections, do need to re-register.
The process is currently open and will take place until Friday, February 7 2014. Two special registration weekends will also be held – January 18 and 19, and January 25 and 26. On election day, South African citizens abroad have to fill out a form (only available once the election date is announced) to apply for a special vote. This can then be cast at any of the country’s diplomatic missions abroad.
For more information, please visit the IEC website www.elections.org.za or contact Alana Baranov of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies election awareness and education campaign ‘Make Us Count’ onalanabaranov@gmail.com
