It's official: South Africans will go to the polls on May 8
President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially proclaimed May 8 as the date for the national and provincial elections.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said on Tuesday that the voters' roll would close at midnight. May 8 will also be a public holiday.
"The proclamation places the preparation of the elections into a different trajectory. It gives a greater impetus to the currently unfolding election preparations," the IEC said in a statement.
"The commission will now have to escalate its preparations so that all electoral activities are accomplished in time for election day."
The date was first announced during the president's state of the nation address earlier this month - but it still had to be officially proclaimed, which happened on Tuesday. The date will now be published in the Government Gazette.
The IEC added that the proclamation of the election date has also triggered the opening of nominations for candidates. "The closing date for candidate nomination will be regulated in terms of the election timetable," said the commission.
The IEC has urged voters abroad to notify the chief electoral officer of registrations and re-registrations, and of the mission where they intend to vote.
We welcome today’s proclamation of #SAElections2019 by President & provincial Premiers. Proclamation triggers the official election timetable which we will discuss with the National Party Liaison Committee tomorrow before publishing in Govt Gazette. https://t.co/HBH1mSlAvE
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) February 26, 2019
First legal consequence of proclamation of #SAElections2019 is to close the voters’ roll for the elections at midnight on 26 Feb. This means no new applicants may be admitted to the voters’ roll, including registrations and re-registrations. https://t.co/HBH1mSlAvE
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) February 26, 2019
First legal consequence of proclamation of #SAElections2019 is to close the voters’ roll for the elections at midnight on 26 Feb. This means no new applicants may be admitted to the voters’ roll, including registrations and re-registrations. https://t.co/HBH1mSlAvE
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) February 26, 2019
Registered voters who intend to vote abroad in #SAElections2019 need to notify the CEO & indicate the mission at which they intend voting. Voters have 15 days to complete the notification (VEC10) available at https://t.co/0nQ1METRRv. Voting abroad is on Sat 27 April.
— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) February 26, 2019