With just under two hours remaining before voting stations close at 9pm, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has urged eligible voters, who have not yet cast their votes, to use the remaining time to participate in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said voting has progressed well across the country, despite a few isolated incidents.
Mamabolo reassured voters that anyone who arrives at their registered voting station before 9pm will be allowed to vote, even if the process extends beyond the official closing time.
“This means that voters who are in the queue by 9pm will not be turned away. We, however, encourage voters not to leave it until the last minute, but to use the remaining time to visit voting stations,” Mamabolo said.
As voting enters the evening period, the Commission has made arrangements to ensure that generators and alternative lighting facilities are available at voting stations in areas experiencing electricity outages. This aims to allow the counting process to proceed without unnecessary disruption.
Preliminary voter turnout
According to preliminary figures, as at 5pm, approximately 12 million voters had cast their ballots.
Gauteng recorded the highest number of voters, at three million, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 2.5 million, Western Cape 1.5 million, and the Eastern Cape with 1.4 million.
Limpopo recorded 1.1 million voters, Mpumalanga 854 901, North West 702 133, the Free State 588 237, and the Northern Cape 299 381.
Mamabolo said the Commission is encouraged by the turnout recorded at many voting stations across the country.
Counting and results process
Mamabolo reported that the counting of ballots will begin at each voting station shortly after voting closes.
He explained that ballot papers will be counted at the voting stations where they were cast, in the presence of political party agents, independent candidate agents and accredited observers.
“Sealed ballot boxes are opened, and ballot papers are checked for the Electoral Commission’s security stamp. Ballots are then sorted and counted separately for each electoral contest, namely the proportional representation (PR) ballot, ward candidate ballot and, where applicable, the district council PR ballot.
“Following the count, the results for each contest are reconciled against the ballot papers received, issued, unused, spoilt and counted at the voting station. Results slips are captured in duplicate, signed by the Presiding Officer, and countersigned by party agents before being displayed at the voting station as soon as counting and tallying of results is completed,” Mamabolo explained.
He noted that party agents will be allowed to take pictures of the signed result slips of each voting station.
The results will subsequently be scanned and captured at local IEC offices, where they will undergo verification and independent external auditing.
“The Results Operations Centres provide political parties, independent candidates, observers and the media with an opportunity to monitor the capturing, verification and processing of results, reinforcing the transparency and integrity of the process.
“Once counting, capturing and verification have been completed and outstanding queries resolved, the Electoral Commission will declare the final results and announce the allocation of seats in municipal councils within the prescribed seven-day period,” Mamabolo explained.
The Commission has thanked political parties and independent candidates participating in the elections, particularly those represented through the National Political Liaison Committee (NPLC), Provincial Political Liaison Committees (PPLCs) and Local Political Liaison Committees (LPLCs).
“These structures have provided an important platform for continuous engagement, consultation and the resolution of issues arising throughout the electoral process.”
The Commission also expressed appreciation to voters, election officials, security agencies, observers, the media and other stakeholders for their contributions to the 2026 Local Government Elections. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: Original report at SAnews.gov.za.
