South Africans Living Abroad Can Vote Says Court

Election 2009:  Constitutional Court Ruling –  Registered Overseas Voters Can Vote   The Constitutional Court on 12 March 2009 ruled on the eligibility of  South African citizens being able to vote abroad.   The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) issued the following statement in this regard:   QUOTE   Following the Constitutional Court ruling of today, 12 March 2009, the IEC will release a formal, official public statement on the matter in due course. In the interim, the following may be used to update your missions abroad:   “South African citizens who are registered voters in South Africa and who intend to vote outside of South Africa in Elections 2009 are required to notify the IEC of South Africa of their intention to vote outside of South Africa by 27 March 2009. The notification period has been extended by the Constitutional Court ruling of 12 March 2009.   To notify the IEC, registered voters are required to complete a VEC 10 form and return it to the IEC by 27 March 2009 at fax No. +27 12 428 5279 or +27 12 428 5711 (alternative fax line).   To check if you are a registered voter, on the IEC’s web site go to “Am I registered” and type in your identity number on-line.   Voting outside of South Africa for Elections 2009 will occur on 15 April 2009 (and not on 22 April 2009) at South African Diplomatic and Consular missions abroad. Once your notification to vote outside of South Africa is approved by the IEC, you are required to present both your bar-coded South African citizenship identity document (or valid temporary identity certificate) and your (South African) passport to a South African Diplomatic or Consular mission on 15 April 2009.  In this regard, a citizen registered to vote outside the Republic will present both his/her bar-coded South African citizenship identity document (or valid temporary identity certificate) as well as his/her South African passport when voting.”   Stuart Murphy Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), South Africa