IEC urges South Africans to register for local government elections
The call comes as the electoral body prepares to roll out its first nationwide voter registration weekend campaign.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has appealed to all eligible citizens to register to vote and verify their registration details ahead of the country’s Local Government Elections scheduled for November 4.
The call comes as the electoral body prepares to roll out its first nationwide voter registration weekend campaign on Saturday and Sunday, marking the start of what is expected to be an intensive voter mobilisation drive in the months leading up to the municipal polls.
ALSO READ | IEC launches voter education campaign ahead of local elections
Addressing a media briefing in Centurion on Thursday, IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said the commission was fully prepared for the registration weekend, with more than 23,000 voting stations across the country ready to assist prospective voters and those wishing to update their information on the voters’ roll.
Voting stations will operate between 8 am and 5 pm on both days.
The registration campaign takes place against the backdrop of growing concern about voter apathy and declining electoral participation rates.
Recent surveys have suggested that public confidence in political institutions remains under pressure, presenting a challenge not only to political parties but also to institutions tasked with safeguarding democratic participation.
Mamabolo emphasised the importance of voters ensuring that they are registered in the correct voting districts, particularly because local government elections differ from national and provincial polls.
ALSO READ | IEC launches app as 2026 local government elections approach
Mamabolo reminded citizens that legislation governing municipal elections does not permit voters to cast their ballots outside the voting district in which they are registered.
“Voters vote in the voting district in which they are registered. There is no statutory mechanism to vote outside of the voting district in which voters are registered,” he said.
He noted that this framework has been in place since the establishment of democratic local government structures in 2000 and remains a critical feature of the municipal electoral system.
The IEC has indicated that a second voter registration weekend will be held later this year to provide additional opportunities for citizens to register.
Eligible voters are required to present a valid South African identity document when registering or updating their details.
ALSO READ | IEC targets youth voter apathy in Zululand ahead of local elections
The commission has also encouraged citizens to use its online registration platform to check their registration status and verify that they are registered in the correct voting district before election day.
