IEC election timetable: Key dates voters need to know

Election timetable marks beginning of electoral process and guides preparations for upcoming Local Government Elections

1 hour ago

Charlene Somduth 2 minutes read

Eligible voters encouraged to participate in this democratic process PHOTO: GovernmentZA/Flickr

The voters’ roll has officially closed ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections on November 4.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa yesterday (August 7) officially proclaimed November 4 as the date for the elections, marking the start of the country’s election timetable, Network News reports.

According to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), the election timetable marks the formal commencement of the electoral process and guides preparations.

It also outlines the key milestones, statutory deadlines and compliance requirements that will govern the conduct of the elections.

Election timetable

Some of the key activities on the election timetable include the inspection of the provisional voters’ roll at the IEC’s national, provincial and local offices from Tuesday (August 11) until August 18.

The inspection opens the period for lodging objections to the provisional voters’ roll.

The IEC will consider all objections and notify objectors of its decisions by August 24 and the Chief Electoral Officer will certify the final voters’ roll on August 26.

Special votes

The list of voting stations and their addresses will be published on August 14.

Candidate nominations, which opened yesterday (August 7), will close at 17:00 on August 28. The final list of candidates will be published on September 16.

Applications for special votes will open on September 21 and close on October 15.

The IEC said voters applying for special votes must indicate whether they require a visit at their homes or places of care, or whether they will vote at their registered voting station on November 2 or 3.

All activities in the election timetable must be completed by 17:00 on the respective cut-off dates.

For those wanting to apply for the special vote, visit the IEC’s website to complete an online application for a voting station visit or home visit. The form can also be downloaded or obtained from a local IEC office during office hours.

Completed forms must be hand-delivered to the relevant IEC office. Registered voters can apply for a voting station special vote by sending an SMS with their identity number to 32249 (R1.50 per SMS).

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