The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has announced that applications for special votes are now open for the 2026 local government elections. Voters who are unable to cast their ballots on November 4 can apply for special votes. The IEC offers special votes to ensure that all citizens can participate in the electoral process. Deputy Chief Electoral Officer for Electoral Operations at the IEC, Masego Sheburi, explained that special votes are designed to make elections inclusive.
There are two broad categories of special votes. The first category includes persons who are unable to vote at a polling station due to a physical condition, such as advanced age, illness, or disability. These voters can apply for special votes and cast their ballots at their homes or places of confinement on November 7 or 8. To apply, they must submit their applications via the IEC website or a physical form to one of the over 250 IEC offices around the country.
For voters who require special votes due to physical conditions, the IEC needs more detailed information, including an address where the voter can be visited. This allows IEC teams to verify the voter's information and arrange for special voting arrangements. Sheburi emphasized that the IEC wants to ensure that all eligible voters can participate in the electoral process.
The second category of special votes includes persons who are able to physically present at a polling station but will be away from their voting district on November 4. These voters can apply for special votes and cast their ballots at their usual polling station on November 7 or 8. The application process for this category is simpler, requiring only an SMS with their ID number to 32249.
Voters who do not have access to data or gadgets can complete a form or have one completed on their behalf and submit it to a local IEC office. Sheburi advised that voters who assist others in applying for special votes should include the voter's details on the form to facilitate communication and planning.
The deadline for submitting special vote applications is October 12, 2026, at 17:00. Voters who qualify for special votes are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible. The IEC will review applications and notify voters of the outcome.
The IEC's special vote process aims to ensure that all eligible voters can participate in the 2026 local government elections. By providing special voting arrangements, the IEC hopes to increase voter turnout and make the electoral process more inclusive.
Key points
- Applications for special votes are now open for the 2026 local government elections in South Africa.
- There are two categories of special votes: for voters with physical conditions and for voters who will be away from their voting district.
- The deadline for submitting special vote applications is October 12, 2026, at 17:00.
