Voting by South Africans abroad has come to an end
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) spokesperson Kate Bapela says there were approximately 27 000 voters who successfully applied to vote overseas.
“Votes cast at 116 South African missions are now being couriered in secure bags back to the Election House in Centurion, where they will be reconciled against the list of voters who successfully notified the Chief Electoral Officer of their intention to vote outside the Republic,” explains Bapela.
Bapela says the ballot papers will then be set aside in ballot boxes and securely stored until local voting stations close and the counting of all ballot papers starts at 9pm on May 7.
“The votes from all international voting stations will be combined into a single international voting district. Final numbers of votes cast abroad will therefore only be known once counting is completed on around May 8,” she adds.
Initial reports from the combined Electoral Commission and Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) operations centre were that voting had proceeded smoothly at all missions with no major problems encountered.
Turnout was reported to be high at the two largest stations in London, where 9 863 voters were expected, and Dubai with 1 539.
The next round of special votes takes place on Monday May 5 and Tuesday May 6 when special votes are cast at voting stations between 9am and 5pm and through home visits.
“Election officials will on Monday and Tuesday visit 295 731 voters in their homes, retirement centres, hospitals and health care facilities and other places of residence throughout the country to allow them to cast their ballots in the national election.
“Of these 292 510 will also cast a provincial ballot,” says Bapela.
Bapela further says that in addition, 90 698 voters also successfully applied to cast a special ballot on Monday or Tuesday at the voting station where they are registered.
“The total number of voters who have been approved to cast a special vote is 386 429.
“In Gauteng, approved home visits amount to 36665, approved voting station visits is 21043, bringing the total number of special votes in Gauteng to 57 708.
“Of the 22 263 voting stations, 3 593 have no special vote applications and will therefore not open on Monday and Tuesday. “
