Postal Votes

 http://www.pmg.org.za/node/29273



QUESTION 1339 / NW1485E

DATE OF PUBLICATION: Thursday, 21 April 2011

INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 12 of 2011
Mrs A T Lovemore (DA) to ask the Minister of Home Affairs:



(1)        Whether , with reference to her reply to question 9 for oral reply on 23 March 2011 in which she referred to local government elections, any arrangements are being made to allow citizens temporarily residing outside the country to register to vote in the 2014 general elections; if not, why not; if so, what arrangements;



(2)        whether any arrangements are being made to increase accessibility to voting stations in the 2014 general elections for citizens temporarily outside the country; if not, why not; if so, what arrangements?



NW1485E

REPLY:



The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has advised as follows:



(1)                 No. Current legislation, only, allows for voters to register where they, ordinarily, reside in the Republic of South Africa.



(2)        No. As stated in (1), above, current, legislation, only, allows for voters to register, where they, ordinarily, reside in the Republic of South Africa (RSA). In this regard, registration in territories outside the RSA, may give rise to the different treatment of voters depending, in which countries they find themselves in. Should this be done (increase accessibility to voting stations in the 2014 general elections for citizens temporarily outside the RSA) there are extensive changes which would have to be made in legislation, and the implications of these changes would have to be considered studiously. Therefore, Voting Stations, abroad, for overseas voting by eligible South Africans are located within South African High Commissions, Embassies and Consulates-General.