The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has expressed its confidence in the controls it has implemented for overseas voting.
With the 2024 general elections approaching, more than 76,000 voters living outside the country are expected to participate in the electoral process. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo has provided insights into the voting process for overseas voters.
According to Mamabolo, special votes cast abroad are first placed in an unmarked envelope, which is then inserted into a second envelope marked with the voting station and the voter’s particulars for verification on the list of approved special votes.
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These envelopes are then placed into a secure ballot box and transported back to the country.
It is emphasized that all special votes cast outside of the republic must reach the head office of the electoral commission by 9 pm on the date of the election. The counting of these ballots will take place in front of party agents and observers.
The international segment of the voters’ roll reportedly consists of approximately 56.6 million voters.
However, after the approval of over 20,000 applications by citizens to vote abroad, the total number of voters expected to participate in the overseas voting process is just over 76,600. The commission has made preparations for voting to take place in 111 foreign missions.
Mamabolo further explains that all missions have already received the necessary election materials, including ballot papers, voting booths, ballot boxes, envelopes, and a voters list.
The voting stations will be open from 7 am to 7 pm, allowing 76,580 voters to exercise their right to vote in South Africa’s 2024 national elections. Additionally, the electoral commission will keep extended hours on both voting days abroad to assist voters with any inquiries.
The IEC has clarified that missions with a work week from Sunday to Thursday will vote on Friday the 17th, while missions that are open Monday to Friday will vote on Saturday the 18th of May.
There are nine missions in the former category and 102 in the latter, totaling 111 missions where expatriates will cast their votes.
Notably, the IEC has highlighted that the voting station in London, with over 24,000 expected voters, will operate on the 18th and 19th of May.
Mamabolo has outlined the voting process for expatriate voters, stating that individuals voting outside the bounds of the republic only have the right to vote on the national ballot.
Similarly, persons voting outside of their province of registration via section 24A notice also receive only one ballot.
This means that individuals registered in one province but voting in another can only vote on the national ballot and cannot influence the election of the people registered in the province where they are casting their votes.
Life's hectic, we understand! If you can't make it to your registered voting station on 29 May, apply for a Sec 24A notice. You've got until 17 May to notify the Commission of your intention to vote elsewhere.
Submit your form at https://t.co/QJkqSXHurv or at your local IEC… pic.twitter.com/aFDSGuGpP1
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) May 14, 2024
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