The National Elections Commission (NEC) of South Sudan has announced that the country's long-awaited general elections will now take place on February 11, 2027. This decision comes after a revision of the electoral timetable, which was initially set for December 2026. According to the NEC, the postponement is necessary to allow for adjustments to the timelines for voter registration, nomination of candidates, election campaigns, and other electoral activities.
The revised electoral calendar outlines a detailed schedule for the election process. Voter registration will begin on November 14, 2026, and run for 15 days, ending on November 28. The Provisional Voters Register will be published on November 29, followed by a seven-day period for displaying the register. Eligible voters will have an opportunity to raise objections against the provisional register between December 7 and December 13, 2026.
The NEC has also provided timelines for the consideration of objections, publication of decisions, and appeals to the competent courts. The final Voters Register is scheduled for publication on January 9, 2027. In terms of candidate nominations, the publication of nomination signature forms will take place on November 29, 2026, allowing prospective candidates 15 days to collect the required signatures.
The submission of candidate nominations will run from December 14 to December 20, while the publication of the list of nominated candidates is scheduled for December 21 to December 27. The period for filing objections to nominations before the NEC will run from December 28, 2026, to January 3, 2027. The commission has allocated January 4 to January 10 for corrections or rejection of nomination applications.
The official election campaign will begin on December 27, 2026, and run for 45 days until February 9, 2027. This will be followed by a one-day silent period on February 10, ahead of polling on February 11. The commission has scheduled two days, February 11 and 12, for sorting, counting votes, and announcing results at polling centres.
The NEC has also made provisions for the settlement of election disputes, allocating 148 days for this process, beginning on February 17 and ending on July 15, 2027. Additionally, the commission has included a provision for run-off elections or repeat voting, with the timetable indicating April 12, 2027, as the end date for that process.
The revised electoral calendar maintains 102 National Legislative Assembly geographical constituencies and 290 State Legislative Assembly constituencies for the 2027 general elections. This development comes as South Sudan prepares for its first general elections since independence in 2011, following years of political transitions and delays in implementing key provisions of the peace agreement.
Key points
- The National Elections Commission of South Sudan has postponed the general elections to February 11, 2027, citing necessary adjustments to voter registration and nomination processes.
- The revised electoral calendar outlines a detailed schedule for voter registration, candidate nominations, and election campaigns.
- The NEC has made provisions for the settlement of election disputes and run-off elections or repeat voting.
