Should Expats Vote?
As of this morning, South Africans who are registered to vote, but are overseas, may now participate in the upcoming 22 April elections. This ruling comes after regulations that limited overseas voting to international sportsmen, government officials, people on temporary holidays, and business trips were declared unconstitutional. To read more, please click the links below.
Expats must act quickly after ruling
Opposition parties rejoice with expats
South African expats vote upheld
In light of the media coverage surrounding the decision of whether citizens located overseas should vote, I began to contemplate this question myself. I participated in the election in November via absentee ballot and am still currently registered with my former place of residence in Oregon. Although I feel very strongly that I should have a voice in national issues, I found myself stumbling through the local issues that often dealt with schools, firefighters, and city maintenance. I also began to wonder what it means to be a citizen of a country I do not reside in as I am currently ruled by a set of laws foreign to me. Is it different if it is a temporary residence as opposed to being an expatriate?
What are your thoughts? Should citizens who are overseas be allowed to vote? Why or why not, and in what cases?
I think you bring up a very interesting issue. I do think there is a difference between ex pat and someone who is in another country temporarily. I sometimes wonder if true ex pats should be able to vote. They are technically still a citizen and therefore deserve to have their voices heard, but they also live in another country, with a different culture, and different issues. They may not even really know what’s happening back in the states. Maybe there could be a modified ballot that could include important state and national issues, but maybe not include local issues that the voter wouldn’t have an connection to.
Alena said this on 12 March 2009 at 9:59 pm
Wow, this is a “hot potato”. Clearly, this is a complicated issue, with citizens’ right to vote being the central concern. I, too, feel it important to permit citizens overseas to be able to have a say in their country of origin. But, as previously mention, how to do they stay in touch so as to make an informed decision?
I don’t know if I’d be comfortable categorizing local vs. regional vs. national issues. That might open up a can of worms. If it had to be one way or the other, I’d err on allowing them to vote.
I say this even though Sara’s vote normally cancels out mine.
Love
Dad
Dad said this on 15 March 2009 at 1:41 am
Alena, thank you for your thoughts! I appreciate your compromise and it makes sense given the different circumstances of a “temporary” versus “expat” situation. It makes me ponder what responsibilities and privileges I have as a citizen abroad.
Dad, yes, indeed a “hot potato”! (Would you expect anything less?)
I can see your logic that it would get overly complicated trying to define different categories in voting. On a side note and related to my next post, I feel better informed about American news in South Africa than I did at home! 
But it’s a good point. How do the obligations of a citizen abroad differ from one at home, particularly in terms of being informed? (And do they?)
+UntamedZebra+ said this on 15 March 2009 at 11:24 pm