NEWS & MEDIA
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NEWS & MEDIA |
RSA GENERAL ELECTION: 7 April 2004
1. Purpose
This to to inform eligible voters who are in Washington DC on 7 April 2004 that they can vote at the South African Embassy, 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC, 20008 between 08:30 and 17:00.
2. The following information was received from the IEC with regarding to the RSA General Election:
South Africans go to the polls on the 14th April 2004. It relates to notifications from voters who will be temporarily out of the Republic for reasons of holiday, business, attending education event or tertiary institution or international sports event and who are unable to vote on 14th April 2004.
3. Special Votes Dates:
Ø 7 April: At South African missions abroad (during office hours: 08:30 – 17:00)
Ø 12 and 13 April: At the voting station where registered before proceeding abroad (from 09h00 to 17h00).
No other dates will be allowed for application and casting of special votes. Allowing votes outside of these dates and times (except where dealing with queues) is a transgression of the law and the freeness and fairness of an election can be drawn into question.
4. What voters were supposed to have done to vote?
Eligible voters were meant to complete VEC10 form that was meant to be sent to the CEO of the IEC by 26 February 2004. In some cases they completed a VEC1 form, which they must complete at the voting station on the Special Votes Day. In other cases, a letter has been submitted. We have chosen to accept these where they provide sufficient information to process.
5. What the IEC national office has done?
The CEO of the IEC has received the notifications up until the cut-off date of the 26 February 2004 (at midnight South African time). Notifications have been checked for:
Ø Whether they are registered on the Voters Registration System (VRS)
Ø The reasons given for temporary absence
Ø Completeness of information, i.e. indication of where they want to vote
Ø Whether the voter is able to vote abroad on the 7th or locally on the 12th of 13th
Ø Submission prior to the deadline
A control sheet has been attached to every application and a preliminary recommendation has been made based on the information provided. The final decision however resides with the Special Voting Officer to make.
6. What the Voting Officer’s going to do.
Ø Check the VEC10 notice the voter has submitted.
Ø If they cannot find the VEC10 notice, they will check the full list of VEC10 notifications to see if voters have complied with notifying the CEO of the IEC.
Ø Assess the passport of the applicant to check the validity of the visa issued
Ø Assess the nature of the visa (e.g. Holiday/tourist visa, Business visa, and temporary work permit).
Ø Check the green bar-coded identity document of the applicant. A valid Temporary Identity Certificate is also acceptable. Check the date of issue and whether it is still valid.
Where a visa is issued for reason not referred to, such as temporary work permit, the voter will be notified of the rejection of their application by issuing a VEC2 form. Some voters may have given a working holiday as reason for temporary absence from the Republic. In these cases only the checking of the visa will result in a satisfactory assessment of whether the voter qualifies or not. The literal meaning of holiday, business, education, tertiary or international sports event is taken to mean exactly that. No other interpretation can be given. No combinations of reasons are allowed either, such as business or holiday. However, the nature of the visa is the final determining factor.
Where a voter is not on the voter’s roll, as checked by IEC national office, but has proof of registration in the form of a registration sticker/label in their ID book, they can unfortunately not vote. An error on the part of the IEC does not render the voter’s roll invalid. The onus rests on the voter too not only have applied for registration, but also to check the voters’ roll to see if their application was successful.
Some voters have expressed concern about their ability to get to the foreign missions due to long distance away. Unfortunately the law does not make provision for alternative voting stations other than foreign missions outside the country, postal voting or voting on behalf of someone else. Eligible voters who wish to cast their vote will have to make it to the foreign mission on the 7th April during the opening hours of mission in order to vote. No other arrangements can be made for voters overseas. Any travel arrangements or costs incurred by voters to cast their vote will be for their own account and not the foreign mission or the IEC.
7. Party Agents Overseas
Party Agents are allowed to witness all voting proceedings. They must present the Voting Officer with an Appointment of Party Agent Form (VEC9), which has been issued by the political party. Without a duly completed VEC9, someone cannot claim to be a legitimate party agent. Only two party agents are allowed per contesting party to witness proceedings.
8. Government Officials Abroad
Government official’s abroad (and members of their households) will be checked against the voter's roll provided. These voters are registered against the voting district where their head office is located and this is the voters’ roll referred to. Note that voters temporarily absent from the Republic will not be included on the voters’ roll. If the government officials are found on the voters’ roll they must fill in a VEC1 and cast their votes. They will receive two ballots, one for the national assembly and one for the province where their head office is located, such as Gauteng. Voters who wish to qualify within this category must produce their Ids, have their names marked off the roll, have their left thumbnails inked, their Ids stamped and vote using the two envelopes provided. If a voter is not on the voters’ roll, cannot produce his/her ID or has voted before, he/she cannot be allowed to vote. They will be issued with a VEC2 notification.
9. Frequently asked questions:
In those rare cases, the spreadsheet of VEC10 notifications for the evidence of the voters’ application will be checked. If the voter’s name is found, the voter will be allowed to vote as per the procedure. If not, the voter will be declined.
Response
The voter will be allowed to vote if they submitted a VEC10 notification. See response to 1 above.
Scenario 3
I’m no longer able to travel, can I still vote even though I’ve said I’ll be abroad.
Response
I do not have my ID book with me, but I do have my passport. Can I not vote with my passport only?
Scenario 5
I’ve left my passport in the hotel, but brought my ID book. Is this sufficient?
No. Both the passport and ID book are required. The passport must be checked for the visa and the nature of the visa.
Response
No. The law states that only holiday, business trip, attendance of tertiary institution or educational visit or participation in an international sports event are the only acceptable reasons. If the visa shows any evidence of temporary work permits, this should be declined.
Scenario 7
I’ve sent in my VEC10 notification along with an application for a special vote (VEC1). Why must I complete one again?
Response
The faxed VEC1 applications in some cases were not clear. It is better to process the application again on the spot than rely on faxed copies.
Scenario 8
IEC national office has checked the VEC10 notices. Why must I check voter’s passports?
Response 9
The IEC has only indicated a potential approval or rejection. Without the actual passport and an assessment of the visa, it is only the special voting officer who can make the decision. The control-sheet on each VEC10 notification serves only as a guideline.
Scenario 10
On what basis can I reject a special vote application?
Response
There are two broad grounds for rejection:
a. Basic Criteria
Ø Wrong identification
Ø Non-SA citizen, e.g. permanent resident
Ø Not registered
Ø Underage, younger than 18
b. Special Votes Criteria
Ø No VEC10 notification
Ø Sent VEC10 notification too late (after midnight, 26 February 2004)
Ø Insufficient information provided, such as no location or reason
Ø Invalid reason for temporary absence
Ø Not on voters’ roll
Ø No passport
Ø Able to cast their vote inside the country on the Voting Day
I am voting overseas. I pay my rates and taxes in Province X. I insist on voting for Province X. Why can I not get a ballot paper for Province X?
Response
The law clearly states that voters temporarily outside the country who are eligible to vote on the 7th April only qualify for a national ballot, not a provincial ballot. It is only in those instances where a voter is voting inside the country on the 12th and 13th April where he or she will get both a provincial and national ballot when they go to their voting station.
Scenario 12
The voter has travelled thousands of kilometres to get to the foreign mission and does not met one of the criteria mentioned in 9 above. Will they be allowed to vote?
Response
No. The law is quite specific about the criteria to be met. Relaxation in its interpretation can open the process up to scrutiny of the freeness and fairness of an election, possibly resulting in all the votes from your voting station being discarded because of your actions.
Compiled by IEC National Office, 22 March 2004
10. Please be advised that the offices of the consular section will be closed for the
public for the day.