/ 1 May 2014

Voting closes for SA expats

Voting Closes For Sa Expats

Voting by South Africans overseas ended on Thursday, the IEC said.

The last voting station in Los Angeles, United States closed at 6am South African time, Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) spokeswoman Kate Bapela said. “Votes cast at 116 South African missions are now being couriered in secure bags back to 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.” 

The counting of votes would start at 9pm on May 7. Votes from international voting stations would be combined into a single international voting district. 

Bapela said about 27 000 voters successfully applied to vote overseas. “Initial reports from the combined electoral commission and department of international relations and co-operation operations centre were that voting had proceeded smoothly at all missions with no major problems encountered.” 

Bapela said the turnout was reportedly high in London, where 9 863 voters had been expected, and in Dubai, with 1 539 registered voters. 

The next round of special votes would take place on Monday and Tuesday when IEC officials would visit 295 731 voters in their homes, retirement centres, hospitals, and health care facilities. â€“Sapa