South Africa’s voter roll has grown to 27 912 415 registered voters ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, surpassing the figures recorded during the 2024 general elections, according to Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) CEO Sy Mamabolo. 

Speaking at the launch of the country’s electoral programme today (May 27), Mamabolo said 376 140 new registrations had been recorded since January. The online registration portal has driven strong early uptake, particularly among younger voters, signalling healthy engagement ahead of the November 4 polls. 

Held under the theme, Get Up. Show Up. Vote, the launch focused on the IEC’s readiness for the elections, voter awareness campaigns and key aspects of the electoral process. The upcoming vote will mark South Africa’s seventh local government election since the dawn of democracy. 

The latest registration figures come against the backdrop of low voter turnout in the previous local elections, held in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. While more than 26 million people registered to vote at the time, turnout was just over 45%, according to information published on the IEC’s website. 

Mamabolo said the IEC was intensifying efforts to encourage broader participation, particularly among younger voters, through digital platforms, community outreach programmes and targeted awareness campaigns. 

Registration weekend 

Mamabolo says just under 24 000 registration stations across the 4 488 municipal wards will be open over the two-day registration weekend scheduled for June 20 and 21. This will allow citizens to register, verify their details and ensure correct registration. The stations will operate from 08:00 to 17:00 on both days. 

Voters will only be permitted to vote at the station where they are registered. 

“Preparations are well advanced, with the Department of Home Affairs ensuring that offices will be open nationwide to facilitate citizens’ applications for identity documents,” he says. 

Awareness and online registration 

To drive voter education and awareness, the IEC has deployed more than 800 municipal outreach co-ordinators into communities. Since the beginning of the year, more than 62 336 community events have been conducted nationwide. 

In addition, the IEC has completed its door-to-door voter communication and registration campaign in 212  out of 214 municipalities, while the tertiary institutions campaign has reached 97 894 students. 

Mamabolo says the online registration portal has improved the accuracy and stability of the voters’ roll by enabling real-time updates and offsetting losses due to mortality. 

Turning their attention to youth, the IEC has introduced a youth-focused series, Beats for My Peeps, which will air on SABC 1 at 18:00 from June 3. 

“The programme uses music, culture and digital creators to address voter apathy, dispel misinformation and promote participation,” he explains. 

In addition, the recently launched IEC Podcast provides accessible real-time information via mobile and digital platforms, alongside a newly introduced media app. 

He adds that the contact centre has evolved into a multi-channel service offering voice, live chat, email, and social media support. 

AI 

In addition, a multi-channel AI agent, Vota, has been deployed to extend services after hours and support peak demand. Where necessary, queries are seamlessly escalated to human agents. Vota is currently trained on voter registration and will be continuously updated. 

The IEC is also publishing the Atlas of Results for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections, which is a comprehensive geospatial analysis presenting the voters’ roll and election results in an interactive, map-based format. This tool will assist citizens, political parties, researchers and stakeholders in understanding registration and voting patterns. 

* If you want to register or check your details, get your identity document ready and visit registertovote.elections.org.za 

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