Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Section 19 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996) upholds that all South African citizens living abroad, who are over the age of 18, can vote in national elections. We can not vote in a local election.

South Africans will go to the polls again in 2021, however that will be a local election in which South Africans abroad won’t be able to vote. The next national election in which those of us abroad can vote, will be in 2023. The date of the election will be proclaimed by the President. In terms of the Constitution the elections must be held within 90 days of the expiry of the current term of the National Assembly and provincial legislatures.

It’s essential that you are registered to vote BEFORE the date the election is proclaimed as registration will not be available from the proclamation until after the elections.

Note: South Africans abroad can’t vote in Local Government Elections.

Voting abroad is a “Special Vote” and is allowed for those who cannot vote at a voting station where they are registered in South Africa, including those South African citizens temporarily absent from the Republic for the purposes of a holiday, business trip, educational visit or participation in an international sporting event.

In order to vote abroad you will need to do the following:

1. Ensure you are registered to vote. You can check your status on the IEC website
2. Ensure you have BOTH a valid South African ID (This can be the new Smartcard ID, the green bar-coded ID or a temporary ID document) and your South African Passport
3. Ensure you have submitted the VEC10 form to the IEC (This will only be available from the date the President announces the date of the election)
4. Head to your nearest SA foreign mission to vote on the announced election day (You can find your nearest SA foreign mission on the DIRCO website. Note that you won’t be able to vote at honorary consuls.)

To vote you need to register so your nameappears on the Voter’s Roll. The Voter’s Roll contains particulars of voters and it is an important tool to protect against electoral fraud e.g. to ensure that individuals only vote once.

By Internet

Visit the IEC website and submit your ID Number.

If you are registered to vote in South Africa, don’t worry, you don’t need to re-register in order to vote abroad. All you need to do is submit the VEC10 form to the IEC when it becomes available after the President announces the date of the election. This form will tell the IEC that you plan to vote abroad, and where you intend to vote.

It’s expected that, like the elections in 2019, this will be an online form available on the IEC’s website. This form will only be available for approximately 15 days, so it’s important you don’t miss the deadline to submit it. Please subscribe to receive email updates from us and we will notify you of all the important election deadlines.

You must:

• be a South African citizen;
• be at least 16 years old (you can only vote from age 18); and
• have a valid current green, bar-coded South African ID book or Smart ID card.
• a valid South African passport or temporary passport if you are registering abroad

Yes, the Electoral Amendment Act 2013 gave all South African citizens the right to register and vote abroad in national elections.

Important: In order to vote abroad, you must be registered AND submit a VEC10 notification within the period specified on the election’s timetable (15 days from the date on which the election is proclaimed).

You can register during the embassy, high commission or consulate-general’s normal working hours,  or during the special overseas voter registration weekend  which will be announced closer to the time (please visit the Dept. of International Relations and Cooperation for contact info, and phone for opening hours).

You must apply for registration before an election is proclaimed (published in the Government Gazette) to be able to vote in that election. For more info on this please visit the IEC website.

You need to take BOTH your SA ID (either the green, bar-coded South African ID book; Smart-card ID; or valid Temporary Identity Certificate), AND your valid South African passport or temporary passport.

Both documents are essential and must be valid, and no other identity document can be accepted. Only original documents can be accepted, no copies.

You can apply for registration at your nearest South African Embassy, High Commission or Consulate-General during their normal office hours, or during the special overseas voter registration weekend which will be held closer to the election.

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.

Voting for South Africans abroad will also take place at South African Embassies, High Commissions and Consulate-General.

Please visit the Dept. of International Relations and Cooperation for the latest contact details for each SA foreign mission.

Yes, you will be able to vote with any of the following valid identification documents: green barcoded ID book, smart-card ID or temporary ID certificate. You will also need your passport in order to vote.

Please ensure you bring your ID along with you when you travel abroad for extended periods ahead of an election year. You will not be able to vote with only your passport. Your ID book is mandatory to be able to vote locally or internationally.

No, you will need to have BOTH your South African passport and any of the following valid identification documents: green barcoded ID book, smart-card ID or temporary ID certificate.

This question is generally asked by those who have married and their maiden name still appears in either their Passport or ID Book/Smart ID.

According to the IEC – “You do not need to re-register. The IEC use your ID number and check it against the National Population Register (NPR). They get your name as it’s reflected on the NPR (the Department of Home Affairs automatically changes your name when you get married), and that is the name that appears on the Voters’ Roll.”

You can apply for a new ID/Passport reflecting your changed name if you want to. These new documents can be applied for at any SA Mission abroad or at Home Affairs in South Africa.

Because voters abroad are only eligible to vote in the national elections, registered voters simply need to inform the Electoral Commission of their intention to vote abroad by completing the VEC10 form.

Don’t worry about changing your address on the IEC’s website – it doesn’t accept international addresses.