The DA Abroad welcomes the announcement by the IEC that there will be a special overseas voter registration weekend from the 1 – 4 February 2019 at all SA foreign missions, and we encourage every South African abroad to ensure that they are registered to vote so they can help bring change to South Africa, and build one South Africa for all.
Read our FAQs on registering and voting abroad
Join our Facebook event and invite others so they don’t miss out!
Got a specific question about voting abroad? Email us at contact@da-abroad.org or WhatsApp at https://wa.me/447958291141
YOUR VOTE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. REGISTER TO VOTE TODAY!
The National Election in 2019 will be our country’s most important vote since 1994, and South Africans abroad can play an important role in ensuring real change for our country.
For millions of South Africans, we will have to make a choice. Ultimately South Africans will choose whether we want:
- A Corrupt Government or A Clean Government.
- A Government that increases VAT or A Government that doesn’t.
- A Government that wants to take away your land for State use or a Government that protects your right to own land.
It is important that every South African abroad who cares about our country ensures that they are registered to vote and casts their vote for the DA in 2019. This is the only way the DA can deliver good governance to the people of South African and stop the ANC / EFF from amending the Constitution, to stop them from increasing VAT, to stop the Corrupt ANC and usher in a wave of Total Change built on Freedom, Fairness, Opportunity and Diversity for all.
“It’s going to be a massively important year for South Africa as we head to the polls for the sixth time as a democracy. Each of us must use the next five months to think very carefully about the South Africa we want for ourselves and our children, and how we can get there.
Fellow South Africans, we have our destiny in our hands. We can put South Africa on a new road… So let’s go and register to win before we go out in May and vote to win.” – Mmusi Maimane
The Democratic Alliance received 84.44% of the overseas vote in the 2014 Election, which means that of the 18,132 total valid votes cast abroad, 15,311 were cast in favour of the DA. If we can get approximately 50,000 votes for the DA then that will equal one (1) more MP for the DA in Parliament who can vote to stop the ANC and EFF from changing the Constitution
HOW TO REGISTER AND VOTE ABROAD IN 2019
In order to vote in the 2019 elections, it is essential that you’re registered to vote.
If you have ever voted before you, then you should still be registered to vote – you only need to do it once. You can check your registration status on the IEC website.
If you are registered to vote, it is likely that you’re registered in South Africa, but don’t worry, closer to the elections you will have the opportunity to inform the IEC that you plan to vote abroad by submitting a VEC10 form when it becomes available after the President announces the date of the election.
If you aren’t yet registered to vote then you can apply to register at your nearest South African embassy, high commission or consulate-general during their normal office hours (see www.dfa.gov.za for locations and contact info), OR during the special overseas voter registration weekend from the 1 – 4 February 2019. Please note that it is not possible to register or vote at honorary consulates or liaison offices.
If you are travelling to South Africa, you can also register to vote at a local IEC office during office hours prior to an election. We strongly urge you to contact your local IEC office prior to your trip to confirm their opening times and the dates that you will be able to register to vote. For more info on this please visit the IEC website.
Eligibility to register
To be eligible to register, a person must:
- Be a South African citizen
- Be 16 years of age or older (applicants can register from the age of 16 but only vote from age 18)
- Possess a valid green bar-coded identity document, a valid Temporary Identity Certificate (valid for 2 months) or Smart Card
- Possess a valid South African passport and
- Submit in person the application form, the identity document and a valid passport to a Special Officer at the South African embassy, high commission or consulate-general. The application form for registration will be provided at the SA mission abroad.
Ahead of the elections in 2019, it is expected that there will also be overseas voter registration weekends for South Africans abroad – once these dates are made public, we will share this information via our website and our mailing list.
Once you are registered to vote, in order to vote abroad you will need to do the following:
- Ensure you have a valid South African ID book and Passport (you will need both to vote). Please CHECK that your passport is VALID and that it has not expired. If you need to renew your Passport, do so ASAP at a South African mission abroad or definitely the next time you go back home.
- Ensure you have submitted the VEC10 form to the IEC to inform them where you plan to vote abroad. This form will only be available from the date the President announces the date of the election.
- Head to your nearest South African Embassy, High Commission or consulate-general to vote on the announced election day
If you have any questions, then please email us at contact@da-abroad.org or WhatsApp at https://wa.me/447958291141