Voter registration information for South African citizens living abroad (2024)

Voter registration information for South African citizens living abroad (2024)

Please see the following information regarding voting in the upcoming elections:

1. How can I check if I am registered on the voter roll / registered to votE?
To verify if you are registered to vote, please visit the IEC website.
Click on “Check my registration status” and type in your SA ID number in the space provided.
The results will indicate whether you are registered or not.

IEC website – please click here.

  • If the results indicate the person is not registered to vote, they should register to get on the voters roll. Please see point 2.
  • If the results indicate the person is registered to vote – no additional action is required for now. They do not have to travel to the Mission to register. They will, however, be required to register to vote outside of the country. Please see point 3. 

2.  i am not registered to vote. what do i do? 
If the results indicate the person is not registered to vote, they should register to get on the voters roll. The Mission in Hong Kong encourages them to register online through the IEC Home – Electoral Commission of South Africa portal.

Online Registration:

To register online through the IEC Home – Electoral Commission of South Africa portal, please click here.
Click on ‘REGISTER to vote now’ and follow the instructions.
In order to register to vote, you must:
  • be a South African citizen;
  • be at least 16 years (you can only vote from age 18).
  • have a valid green, barcoded ID book or smartcard ID

Please note: When requesting a One Time Password (OTP) it is advisable to use an email address not a cell phone number as only South African mobile numbers can receive OTP.

In-person Registration:

The Mission in Hong Kong encourages citizens to register online through the IEC Home – Electoral Commission of South Africa portal. If, however, you are unable to register online, the Mission in Hong Kong will be open for in-person registration on 27 and 28 January 2024 from 08:00-17:00 at Room 1906 – 1908, 19/F, Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. The intention of the in-person registration weekend is only to assist South Africans who are not registered to vote and could not for some reason, manage to register online.

Please note:  For in-person registration, an original South African ID and an original passport is required – no certified copies will be accepted.
If your passport has expired, you can register to vote, but on the day of voting, only a valid passport will be accepted.
Copies of your ID and passport will be made by the Consulate staff to be submitted with the completed manual form to IEC offices in Centurion. Once you have registered to vote, please also complete the registration to register to vote abroad (see point 3).

3.  i am already on the voters roll (registered to vote), but I want to vote abroad. what do i do? 
Citizens living abroad who are already registered to vote – either on the national or international segment of the voters roll – need not re-register to vote, but will be required to register online to vote abroad through the IEC Home – Electoral Commission of South Africa portal. Please register here.

Click on ‘Register to vote abroad’ and follow the instructions.

In order to register to vote abroad, you must:
  • be a South African citizen;
  • be at least 16 years (you can only vote from age 18).
  • have a valid green, barcoded ID book or smartcard ID

Please note: Under country, please select ‘China’ and choose the diplomatic mission ‘Hong Kong’. Please make sure you have a JPG/JPEG, PNG, BMP, GIF of your SA ID and passport ready to upload with your online registration (PDF is not accepted).

The online application will available on the IEC website on the date of proclamation for a period of 15 days thereafter

MORE FAQ ABOUT VOTER REGISTRATION ABROAD:

Who needs to register to vote abroad?

To vote in South Africa’s elections, you must be registered as a voter. First-time voters who are not currently on South Africa’s voters’ roll must apply for registration online or, as a last resort, at their nearest South African embassy, high commission or consulate-general. Voters who live abroad, but were previously registered in South Africa, are still registered to vote and are not required to re-register. They do, however, need to register online to vote abroad.

What do I need to register to vote abroad?
You must:
·        Be a South African citizen
·        Be at least 16 years old
·        Have a valid South African ID book/smart ID card
·        Have a valid South African passport.

What if my ID and passport have different surnames, for example, one still has my maiden name? Do I need to re-register?
You do not need to re-register. The Electoral Commission uses your identity number and checks it against the National Population Register (NPR). We then get your name as it’s reflected on the NPR (the Department of Home Affairs automatically changes your name when you get married). 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 South African mission abroad or at the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa.

I am already a registered voter, but my given address is in South Africa. Do I need to provide the Electoral Commission with my new address where I live abroad?
Yes. By law the Electoral Commission is obliged to have an up-to-date and complete address recorded for each voter. Please email the Electoral Commission at info@elections.org.za and provide them with your ID number, full names, and new address so that your information can be updated on the voters’ roll.

When are the 2024 elections going to be held?
The date for the 2024 national and provincial elections is expected to be announced by the President in early 2024. 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.

For general queries:
Contact Centre: 0800 11 8000

Where is the Consulate General of South Africa in Hong Kong and Macau SAR?

Room 1906-08, 19/F., Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong.

灣仔港灣道18號中環廣場19樓1906-8室

Contact Number :
Telephone: +852 3926 4300
Fax: +852 2890 1975

E-mail :
General Enquiries: info@sacg.hk
Consular Section: consular@sacg.hk
Website:

http://www.sacg.hk/en/