South Sudan's National Election Commission Sets Voter Registration Dates

The National Election Commission (NEC) of South Sudan has announced a two-week nationwide voter registration exercise from November 14 to 28, 2026. This move is a critical step towards the country's planned general elections in 2026. NEC Chairperson Gabriel Bol Deng made the announcement, stating that registration will take place across South Sudan's ten states and three administrative areas at 3,161 registration centres.

During a press conference in Juba, Bol Deng explained that the commission has completed key preparations, including recruiting and training election officials and distributing registration materials to state and administrative area capitals. A total of 22,127 registration officials have been recruited and deployed, and registration materials and equipment have already reached the respective capitals. Arrangements are underway to transport them to individual centres.

The NEC chairperson urged all eligible South Sudanese citizens to participate in the exercise and exercise their democratic right to register and vote. Prospective voters are required to visit their nearest registration centres, present identification documents or other acceptable evidence of identity and age, provide accurate personal information, verify their registration particulars, and avoid multiple registrations.

Bol Deng also mentioned that the commission has appointed and trained constituency returning officers, who subsequently trained registration officials in their respective centres. After the registration exercise, the NEC will publish a preliminary voter register, paving the way for political parties and aspiring candidates to proceed with the nomination process in accordance with electoral laws.

The commission will also organise media training on electoral regulations, accreditation requirements, and the media code of conduct to support responsible election coverage. Bol Deng called on state high election committees, security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations, community leaders, and the media to support public awareness and facilitate an inclusive registration process.

The NEC chairperson described the registration exercise as a critical step towards the planned 2026 general elections, urging citizens to participate in the electoral process. He emphasized the importance of citizen participation, stating that the commission cannot announce the registration exercise without knowing that people will have the materials and the workforce on the ground.

The voter registration exercise is a crucial step towards ensuring that eligible citizens can exercise their right to vote in the 2026 general elections. The NEC's efforts to engage citizens and stakeholders in the electoral process are essential for the success of the elections.

Key points

• The National Election Commission of South Sudan sets November 14-28 for nationwide voter registration.
• A total of 22,127 registration officials have been recruited and deployed.
• The NEC will publish a preliminary voter register after the registration exercise.