The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has urged all eligible South Africans to register to vote in the upcoming local government elections at the voting station linked to where they live.
Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, the commission stressed that voters in local government elections must vote at the station where they are registered, as there is no legal provision to vote outside that voting district.
“In a local government election, there is no legal facility to vote outside of the voting station of registration. This requirement ensures that voters participate in the ward election that corresponds with their place of ordinary residence,” the commission said.
The IEC also announced that a national voter registration weekend will take place on June 20 and 21, 2026, giving citizens an opportunity to register for the first time or update their voting details.
According to the commission, there has been a steady rise in the number of people using the online self-registration platform, RegisterToVote.org.za. Citizens have also increasingly made use of outreach initiatives to update their details in person, reflecting growing confidence in both digital and physical registration channels.
Between November 2025 and March 2026, a total of 260 205 new voter registrations were recorded. Of these, 128 113 voters registered through Voter Management Devices (VMDs), while 132 092 registered using the online self-service portal.
The commission said the increase in registrations was also driven by an online registration campaign held throughout February 2026, which encouraged citizens to register, verify or update their details remotely.
To improve access to electoral information, the IEC has also expanded its contact centre to assist residents with queries about voter registration and election processes.
Government removes barriers to obtaining ID
Meanwhile, the Department of Home Affairs has expanded efforts to make it easier for citizens to obtain identity documents required for voter registration.
Through a partnership with several banks, South Africans can now apply for Smart ID cards directly at participating bank branches. The programme officially entered its live operational phase on Sunday.
Using integrated digital systems, applicants can complete a Smart ID application within minutes at selected branches, without filling in paper forms or making prior bookings. Banks connect securely to Home Affairs’ systems through a digital gateway, allowing applications to be processed in about five to ten minutes.
The initiative aims to reduce the need for citizens to travel long distances to one of the country’s 349 Home Affairs offices, enabling them to access services closer to their communities.
The IEC has encouraged all eligible voters to take advantage of the upcoming registration weekend and ensure their details are correct ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
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