12 March 2009
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:
* All South Africans, registered on the voters' roll, 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.
* 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.
* 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 Independent Electoral Commission's
(IEC) 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), please visit the IEC website on http://www.elections.org.za. The completed
VEC10 forms should be e-mailed to vec10@elections.org.za by 27 March 2009 or
faxed to 012 428 5566 or 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.
For media enquiries please contact:
Kate Bapela
Cell: 082 600 6386
Issued by: Independent Electoral Commission
12 March 2009
