IEC:18,000 SA citizens living abroad already registered
The Electoral Commission (IEC) has confirmed that 18,000 South Africans living abroad have registered to vote through its online registration portal.
The commission on Thursday provided an update on the readiness for the registration weekend for South Africans living abroad ahead of the 2024 general elections.
READ: DA calls for more SA voting stations abroad
Electoral Commissioner Janet Love urged all South Africans living abroad to exercise their right to vote.
"The 18,000 that was quoted is a figure of those people who have registered online using our newly developed portal. This does not represent a number of people who may have registered previously, but we are encouraging them to check their registration details.”
Love says they are looking at improving the registration and voting process to accommodate the transition into the technological era.
"We do not have the possibility for voting online, as we have indicated in previous interactions with yourself. The IEC has been looking at ways of using technology increasingly and this is clearly a need, not only for people who are living abroad but for all South Africans".
The IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said South African consulates and embassies would be operating during working hours over the 2-day period.
"Registration requires a South African Identity document and a South African passport.
Mamabolo added that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation has informed them that embassies and consulates in Ukraine, Israel and Sudan have been temporarily closed due to security concerns.
"We will take the best steps possible steps to ensure that everyone participates in this democratic process. We encourage citizens in these countries to register using the online portal.”
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