Election day declared a public holiday

4 November election day has been declared a public holiday to allow registered voters to participate in upcoming municipal polls

5 hours ago

Gugu Myeni 1 minute read

Preparations for 2026 local government elections on track PHOTO: GCIS

Employers are being urged to allow employees to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming Local Government Elections.

This as the 4 November election day has been declared a public holiday to allow registered voters to make their mark in the municipal polls.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged all registered voters to use the day to elect local representatives and influence service delivery where they live.

“Voters are reminded as well that they will only be able to cast their votes at the polling stations in wards where they are registered.

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“In the event that voters may consider travel, they will not be able to transfer their votes to voting stations away from their designated wards,” said Ramaphosa.

Special votes

Voters who cannot physically get to their voting stations on election day – due to physical limitations, illness, disability or other circumstances – will, as of next Monday, be able to submit applications to cast special votes.

Special vote applications open on Monday, 21 September and close on Monday, 12 October.

“Voters applying for special votes must indicate whether they must be visited at their homes or places of care, or at the polling station of registration on 2 or 3 November,” said the IEC.

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