IEC ready to support voters with disabilities ahead of local elections
Voters can access accessible voting stations, assistive ballot templates and home visits to help them participate in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) is encouraging voters with disabilities to prepare for the 2026 Local Government Elections by familiarising themselves with the support available to help them cast their ballots independently and securely.
The commission has released a voter education guide outlining five forms of assistance available to voters with disabilities, including accessible voting stations, specialised ballot templates, personal assistance, private voting booths and special votes.
The initiative aims to ensure that physical and visual impairments do not prevent eligible voters from exercising their democratic right.
According to the IEC, voting stations are designed to accommodate people with different accessibility needs through features such as wheelchair ramps, handrails and tactile floor markings for voters with visual impairments.
Voters with disabilities, older people and pregnant women will also receive priority in voting queues.
Blind and partially sighted voters can use the Universal Ballot Template (UBT), a transparent plastic overlay fitted with Braille and raised dots that aligns with the ballot paper. The device helps voters identify parties and candidates and mark their choices in secret.
Voters who require additional assistance can choose to be helped by a companion of their choice, such as a family member, friend or guide, provided the person is at least 18 years old. Alternatively, assistance can be provided by the presiding officer at the voting station, with a witness present.
The IEC also provides lower voting booths and adjustable voting compartments to accommodate wheelchair users while maintaining the privacy of their ballots.
For voters who cannot travel to a voting station because of physical infirmity, disability or serious illness, the Commission offers special votes, including home visits by election officials.
The Commission has approved 2.65 million special vote applications for the 2026 Local Government Elections, including 678 525 requests for home visits.
The Commission has urged voters who require assistance to contact their local IEC office in advance to establish the arrangements available to them.
As preparations for the elections continue, accessible voting remains an important part of ensuring that people with disabilities can participate in the democratic process and have their voices heard in decisions affecting their communities.
