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Important info for voting abroad during the SA elections

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Dear Friends

As in 2009, South Africans living in other parts of the world will be able to vote on the national ballot of the upcoming General Election. Over the course of the past few months, we have succeeded in reaching a large number of South Africans who live abroad in order to inform them of the process of registration and voting while abroad.

In addition to South Africans who are residing abroad permanently or for longer periods of time, we have received a number of queries from South Africans who will be traveling abroad temporarily on holiday or business on Election Day, requiring information on the process to vote abroad.

Please take note of the following important information regarding this process:

  • South Africans who are registered to vote, whether they are registered in South Africa or abroad, are able to vote at one of the available foreign missions, provided that they notify the Independent Electoral Commission of their intention to vote overseas using the VEC10 form.
  • The VEC10 application will be available online for a 15-day window period following the formal proclamation of the election date by the President. Because the election date has not yet been formally proclaimed, this form is not yet available.
  • Once the election date is proclaimed, South Africans who wish to vote abroad will be able to access and submit the VEC10 form online only at http://www.elections.org.za/content/For-Voters/How-to-register-and-vote-abroad/.
  • Following online submission of the VEC10 form, the IEC will confirm that the voter is eligible to vote and send the voter an email or text message to let them know if and when they can vote at the foreign mission they selected.

A full list of the foreign missions serving as voting stations can be viewed here: http://www.dfa.gov.za/foreign/sa_abroad/index.htm.

While we do not yet have confirmation of the date of the overseas election date, it is likely that South Africans abroad will go to the polls seven days ahead of Election Day in South Africa on Wednesday, 30 April 2014.

In order to vote abroad, South Africans will need to take their green, bar-coded South African ID book, smartcard ID or valid Temporary Identity Certificate (TIC) AND their valid South African passport or temporary passport to their chosen foreign mission to cast their vote in person on the yet to be specified election day abroad.

The DA Abroad’s volunteer structures, in conjunction with the Department of Strategic Markets at National Head Office, have launched an extensive campaign and ground operation to not only equip South Africans living abroad with information on the voting process, but to also co-ordinate political activity around the world. South Africans abroad are most welcome to join our efforts by connecting with us in the following ways:

Email contact@da-abroad.org Website www.da-abroad.org / www.votehome.org Twitter @DA_Abroad / @VoteHomeSA Facebook www.facebook.com/DemocraticAllianceAbroad

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me should you require additional information on the above.

Kind regards,

Dean Biddulph

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.