Registration for the 2026 Local Government Elections are open, and eligible members of the public are encouraged to register in order to vote.
According to the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), elections will be held between 2 November and 30 January 2027 as the end of the term is calculated from the day following the date of the last general elections.
“The authority to set a date and call an election is within the statutory remit of the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. In this regard, preliminary consultations between the Commission and the Minister have commenced.”
The Commission hosted an international conference in March to assess the feasibility of implementing electronic voting in South Africa. A Discussion Document for a nationwide discussion the use of technology in election was launched. Some of the key point included the reasons for considering the introduction of e-voting and the “relevant constitutional principles, policy and legal framework that must precede the introduction of e-voting in the country,” amongst others.
As a result, the Commission proceeded with a six-month engagement period for feedback from relevant stakeholders including voters. A final decision has not been made. The drafting of the final policy document is expected to take place in March 2026.
Residents and interest groups wishing to make submissions are encouraged to email evoting@elections.org.za, using “E-Voting Consultation” as the subject line.
In the meantime, South Africans are encouraged to make use of the online self-voter registration system to register and to update their details if necessary.
Visit the voter portal here:
https://registertovote.elections.org.za/?fbclid=IwY2xjawN2fc1leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFDb1d1bTNTeVJHSkJpV1JoAR6Zzs5los4qctuOsz7Lw-KMzlwFaFLXPF6x2hHwdxQ-mJLJlvIWLpYtKNmWoA_aem_u3K0ncP7bDgXYC7No4y1Mg
Compiled by Gypseenia Lion
