Constitutional Court ruling on overseas voting
The Constitutional Court this morning delivered judgements in various cases concerning voting by citizens finding themselves outside the country on Election Day.
As we understand, the outcome can be summarised as follows:
1. All South Africans, registered on the voters' roll (see here on how to check status), who will be outside the country on Election Day and therefore unable to vote at the voting stations where they are registered, will be able to vote by special vote. They will be able to vote by special vote on 15 April 2009 at any South African Embassy, High Commission or Consulate outside South Africa .
2. These voters must notify the Chief Electoral Officer on or before 27 March 2009 of their intention to do so and at the same time indicate at which Embassy, High Commission or Consulate they want to vote on 15 April 2009.
3. South Africans who will be outside the country on 22 April, but want to vote at their voting station on 20 or 21 April 2009 must notify the Chief Electoral Officer on or before 27 March 2009 of their intention to do so. They will vote at the office of the Presiding Officer which will be located at or near their voting station.
The Electoral Commission is satisfied that it will be able to manage the extended special voting process successfully. The fact that only registered voters will be able to utilise the 15-day period of application for special votes as decided by the Court is within the IEC's operational ability. We appeal to all South Africans affected by this ruling to immediately utilise this opportunity to notify the Chief Electoral Officer of their intention to vote.
For more information including the downloading of the necessary forms (VEC10 - see here - PDF), please visit the IEC website on www.elections.org.za. The completed VEC10 forms should be emailed to [email protected] by 27 March 2009 or faxed to 012-428 5566/012-428 5279 or mailed to Attention: Chief Electoral Officer, Electoral Commission, PO Box 7943 , Pretoria 0001 or hand delivered to Attention: Chief Electoral Officer, Election House, 260 Walker Street , Sunnyside, Pretoria
Statement issued by the Independent Electoral Commission, Pretoria , March 12 2009
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