The Electoral Commission (IEC) has expressed satisfaction with the way voting has progressed abroad. Around 30 000 South Africans living abroad cast their votes as South Africa marked Freedom Day, hoping to make a difference in the 2019 General Elections.
The majority of voters abroad are in London. The rest of South Africa goes to the polls on 8th May.
“In Oceania, Australia, New Zealand and some parts of Asia voting has gone extremely well, but what has been great for us is the jubilation that characterised a day of celebration and enthusiasm for participation in the process. London is special because of the numbers and those numbers are formed by our historical ties with the UK,” says IEC’s chief electoral officer, Sy Mamabolo.
The IEC says once South Africans abroad have voted their ballots are sealed in a double envelope and all ballots are placed in sealed diplomatic bags which will be transported back to the National Office of the IEC in SA over the coming week.
The returned overseas ballots will be opened by election officials at the close of voting on election day (21:00 on May 8). The ballots will be counted and added to the national ballot count for each party contesting the national elections.
Voters abroad only vote in the national and not provincial elections.
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