Local elections on 4 November: what voters need to know

South Africans will vote in the 2026 Local Government Elections on Wednesday 4 November, which has been declared a public holiday. Deputy Government Spokesperson William Baloyi set out how voters can prepare in a piece published by SAnews on 31 October.

Check your details before the day

Municipal elections require people to vote at the station where they are registered, so it is worth confirming your ward and voting station beforehand. According to SAnews, you can do this in several ways:

• on the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) website;
• by calling the IEC on 0800 11 8000;
• by sending your 13-digit ID number by SMS to 32810;
• by sending “Hi” on WhatsApp to 060 088 0000.

Special votes, for those whose applications were approved, will be cast on 2 and 3 November. Everyone else votes on 4 November.

What to bring and when to go

Voters need an acceptable identity document: a smart ID card, a green barcoded ID book or a valid temporary identity certificate. Home Affairs has extended its hours so people can collect or apply for documents, including temporary certificates. Offices will be open from 8am to 6pm on 2 and 3 November, and from 7am to 9pm on 4 November, matching IEC hours.

Voters are encouraged to go early, and to bring water and a hat because of the heat.

How voting works

Officials will check your identity against the voters’ roll and apply indelible ink to your thumbnail, which stops anyone voting twice. Voters in metros get two ballots: one for a ward candidate and one for proportional representation. Those in local municipalities get a third ballot, for district proportional representation.

You mark one cross next to your chosen candidate or party. A signature or other unnecessary marks can lead to a ballot being rejected. If you spoil your ballot, ask the presiding officer for help before it goes into the box. Voters are also asked to fold their completed ballots and not to photograph them, to protect the secrecy of the vote.

Voters with disabilities may be helped by someone they choose, as long as that person is at least 18 and is not a candidate or party agent. Without a companion, the presiding officer can assist while at least two accredited political agents are present.

Safety and conduct

Police visibility, crime prevention and public-order policing will be provided under the National Integrated Security Plan, coordinated through NATJOINTS. No campaigning is allowed within voting-station boundaries, and the article warns that intimidation, coercion, disruption or violence will be dealt with by the law.

What this means for you

If you plan to vote, check your station now, make sure your ID is valid and decide how you will get there on the public holiday. If your ID is lost or expired, Home Affairs offices have longer hours this week. The article also encourages voters to look at municipal budget data, audit outcomes and IEC information before deciding.

This story is based on reporting by SAnews.