Thousands of expats head to the polls to make their mark!

Their Vote Election Day Public Holiday IEC vote South Africa

Photo Credit: Darryn Van Der Walt

Photo Cred: Darryn Van Der Walt

Nearly 30 000 South Africans living abroad cast their votes on Saturday!

Global – Twenty-five years to the day when South Africans voted in the first democratic elections, voting in the sixth national elections got underway at 7 am on Saturday 27 April 2019 at South Africa’s high commissions, embassies and consulates-general around the world.

Overseas voting continued for almost 24 hours as voting stations opened and then closed around the world following the passage of the sun – beginning in Auckland, New Zealand and ending in the Los Angeles, United States.

“The voters who received approval to vote overseas are required to visit the mission indicated on their application and take with them their South African ID document (either a green barcoded ID, a smartcard ID or a valid temporary ID certificate) and their valid passport. This year the voting process has been simplified, and they will no longer be required to complete a special vote application form before voting,” the Electoral Commission explained.

The top 10 foreign missions with the most voters are:

London – 9 084
Dubai – 1 542
The Hague – 1 355
Canberra – 1 195
Abu Dhabi – 1 061
Wellington – 927
Dublin – 817
Kinshasa – 797
New York – 605
Doha – 566

Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, said the afternoon missions in the Eastern part of the world have already closed, including Auckland, Canberra, and some Asian countries.

“No logistical problems have been reported, and all South Africans are jovial at having been given this opportunity to cast their ballots,” Mamabolo said.

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) agreed to extend voting hours at four foreign missions to accommodate Jewish voters celebrating the Sabbath on 27 April 2019.

The decision to extend voting hours at these missions followed a request from the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) to accommodate Jewish voters who will be celebrating the Sabbath on 26 and 27 April.

Voting at the London, Tel Aviv, Los Angeles and New York missions will open at 7 am and close at 11:30 pm on the day that South Africa commemorates Freedom Day.