Which elections can South Africans vote in abroad?
By law, South Africans abroad can only vote in South Africa's national elections; they cannot vote in the provincial elections, regional elections for National Assembly, or municipal elections.
Why should you vote in the South Africa's National Elections if you live abroad?
Because each and every citizen has the right to vote in South Africa's elections, and the responsibility to participate in making decisions for its future. It's your democracy, own it!
Do you qualify to vote abroad?
You can vote abroad if you:
- are a registered voter;
- are 18 years of age (you can register to vote from age 16);
- have a valid South African ID (green barcoded ID book, OR a smartcard ID, OR a valid Temporary Identity Certificate).
Voter registration out-of-country
South African citizens who wish to vote in South Africa's next National Elections must be registered to vote by proclamation of the election date by the President of the Republic (not just the announcement of the election date).
First-time voters who are not currently on South Africa's voters' roll must register online or in-person at their nearest accredited South African mission. Click here for a full list of South Africa's missions accredited as international voting stations.
Voters who were previously registered and moved abroad are still registered to vote and can either re-register online at their nearest accredited mission, or can submit an online special vote application (VEC 10) to vote out-of-country at the international voting station of their choice (for example, if a voter is only travelling temporarily to a different country).
When is voting day for citizens out-of-country?
By law, citizens can only vote out-of country abroad on the date specified in the election timetable, which is typically 10 days before voting day in-country. Please keep following us here, on our social channels @IECSouthAfrica, or in the media for updates.
Applying for a special vote out-of-country
Voting out-of-country is considered a special vote. In a change from previous years, not all voters who intend voting out-of-country are required to apply for a special vote online, known as a VEC 10 application.
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A voter who is registered to vote out-of-country and intends voting at the accredited mission where they are registered to vote, is NOT required to submit an online VEC 10 special vote application.
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Only voters who will be voting at an accredited mission that they are not registered to vote at, are required to submit an online VEC 10 special vote application. The completion of this form (available here after proclamation as per the election timetable) informs the Electoral Commission of their intention to vote abroad by indicating the mission at which they will be voting, once the date of the national election is proclaimed.
Check your voter registration
To check that you're registered and to find out where you're registered, you can:
- Visit our website
here;
- SMS your ID number to 32810 (if in South Africa)
- Email the Electoral Commission's helpline at [email protected]
- Call the Electoral Commission's helpline on 0800 11 800 (if in South Africa).