Special votes get underway 

Special Voting, ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE), is underway across various homes and several voting stations across the country today, with the Electoral Commission set to to give an update on proceedings at lunchtime. 

Special Voting is an inclusivity mechanism in the country's electoral scheme, catering for registered voters who may not be able to reach voting stations due to physical infirmity or disability, and for those who may for various reasons not be in a position to present themselves on Election Day at voting stations within the wards where they are registered.

The Electoral Commission's Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, is expected to update the media on progress made on the first day of special votes at 1pm today.  The briefing will be held at the National Operations Centre in Midrand. 
 
At a media briefing on Sunday, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said a  total of 2 655 067 voters have been approved for special voting and voters will vote in two categories, comprising home visits and voting station-based special voting over the course of Monday and Tuesday.

Special voting commenced at 8am and is expected to conclude at 5pm on both days. 

A total of 678 525 voters will cast special votes at their places of residence due to physical infirmity or disability. The gender split for this category of voters is 74% females and 26% males. Kwazulu-Natal recorded the highest provincial figure with 143 714 approved home visits, followed by Gauteng 

Meanwhile, a total of 1 976 542 voters have been approved to cast their special votes at their registered voting stations. Out of these, 64% are female, while 36% are males. Gauteng has the highest approved voting station special votes at 391 589. 

The Commission reminded that voting station approved voters must report to the voting station where they are registered on 2 or 3 November 2026, during the prescribed special voting hours. 

At Sunday’s briefing, the IEC urged voters approved for home-visit special voting in the 2026 Local Government Elections to remain at their registered addresses on Monday and Tuesday until electoral officials arrive to assist them in casting their ballots.

READ | Special voters urged to remain home until IEC officials arrive

Meanwhile, the Commission has expressed readiness to administer special voting on Monday and Tuesday. -SAnews.gov.za 

 

Source: Original report at SAnews.gov.za.