South Africans abroad opportunity to register to vote. CLOSED

As of Wednesday 07 February 2024, there have been over 40,000 successful registrations using the IEC’s new online overseas registration portal. 

HOW TO REGISTER ABROAD

If you wished to register, or if you are already registered but needed to re-register to change your voting station to your nearest foreign mission, please visit the IEC’s website elections.org.za and click on the ‘register to vote abroad’ option. You will need your ID book or smartcard to use this portal. If the portal asks you for a SA phone number and One Time Pin then you are on the portal for those who live in SA to register online, please click on the correct portal link for overseas registration.

Many abroad have faced challenges with the registration portal and it has taken multiple attempts. Please see the user guide under the help section on the IEC portal website and follow these troubleshooting tips:

• Ensure there’s white space around the document. 
• You need to upload an image showing both pages of your ID book and/or passport. 
• Check your phone isn’t taking live images – just a static image & ensure there’s no glare, reflection, shadow or blur. Ensure the document has no bends, folds, or creases.
• Ensure your documents are smaller than 5mb. If the document is too high resolution and too big it can cause problems uploading it.
• Clear your cache/browser history or try a different browser. 
• Do not refresh the entire page, after your third attempt to upload your ID document, a pop-up should appear which gives you the option to send for manual verification and continue with your application. The IEC’s team have successfully processed over 600 manual verifications to date. Your application should be cleared in 24 hours.
• Bypass the passport upload page by ticking the box that you do not have your passport with you. 
• Please click on the ‘Check my voter registration status’ link on the IEC’s homepage to check if your application has been updated on the Voters Roll.

ALSO READ: SA national elections 2024: Everything EXPATS need to know about voting

WHERE TO VOTE ABROAD

Current legislation means that those abroad can only vote in person at their nearest foreign mission.  Currently 3 foreign missions are temporarily closed due to safety and security concerns (Ukraine, Sudan & Israel). Thirteen other foreign missions having permanently closed in recent years. If you were previously registered to, or voted at the now closed foreign missions you should’ve re-registered and changed to a different voting station. 

Permanently closed foreign missions:

1. Tripoli, Libyta
2. Helsinki, Finland
3. Bonn, Germany
4. Frankfurt, Germany
5. Milan, Italy
6. Lima, Peru
7. Bucharest, Romania
8. Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
9. Montevideo, Uruguay
10. Chicago, USA
11. The Holy See, Vatican City
12. Muscat, Oman 
13. Suva, Fiji

CLOSURE OF VOTERS ROLL

The Voters Roll will close within a few days after the president announces the date of elections, when it is promulgated (made into law). The date of election is 29 May 2024.