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More about voting overseas and special votes

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I have received numerous queries in respect of overseas voting and special vote procedures. For your information and assistance I provide the following information below. Please feel free to contact Anne at my office on 041 5850515 or ward2@mandelametro.gov.za and we will be happy to assist should you have any additional queries.

Voting Overseas:

  1. The window for submitting notifications of intention to vote overseas has opened, and closes at 17h00, South African time, on 12 March. All South Africans who wish to cast their vote abroad, must submit the VEC10 form (online) in order to vote. As at 13h00 on 26 February, over 5600 people had already notified the IEC of this intention to vote abroad.
  2. These individuals can only vote, in person, on Wednesday 30 April 2014 at the embassy, consulate or mission indicated on their VEC10 application, and must take their valid SA ID document, temporary ID certificate and SA passport along when they cast their ballot. At this stage the hours during which they will do this are the normal hours of work of the specific foreign mission. The DA will be petitioning the IEC and DIRCO to extend these.

Special Votes – Applications for Special Votes:

  1. The window to apply for special votes opens on 07 April and closes at 17h00 on 17 April. These applications must be made at the office of the Municipal Electoral Officer, and between the hours of 09h00 and 17h00.
  2. By law, you can apply for a special vote if you can’t travel to your voting station because you are physically infirm, disabled or pregnant; or can’t vote at your voting station on election day. I attach the VEC1 form to be completed. Please note that these must be hand-delivered to the IEC offices, but can be delivered by a proxy on behalf of the individual applying.
  3. Special voting will take place over two days: Monday 5 May and Tuesday 6 May. The draft calendar indicates that special votes will take place both at the voting station and for home visits on both days. This is a departure from previous years where the Monday was dedicated to home visits and the voting station did not open for voting.

Please note that there are circumstances where we will simply not be able to assist people who want to vote.

  • If a voter expects to be overseas on 30 April and not in the country by 7 May, then he/she must apply for an overseas vote before 12 March and vote on 30 April.
  • If a voter will be in the country on 5 or 6 May, but not on 7 May then he/she must apply for a special vote between 7 and 17 April and vote on one of the special voting days.
  • If a voter will not be overseas and able to go to an embassy, consulate or mission on 30 April but will also not be in South Africa between 5 and 7 May, then they simply do not fall into any window where we or the IEC can assist.

Kind Regards

Dean  Biddulph

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Ward 2

Councillor Dean Biddulph (Democratic Alliance) Ward 2: Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality Tel: 041 582 2015 / 082 559 6158 Fax: 041 585 1364 E-Mail: ward2[at]mandelametro.gov.za "Men make history, and not the other way around. In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still. Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better." Harry S. Truman Ward 2 covers the following areas: 11 Ave Summerstrand, Avondale Rd up to Western Rd Central, Foresthill, Humewood, Uppervalley.