Today, 21 September 2026, marks the opening of applications for special votes for the 2026 Local Government Elections, in line with the Election Timetable. Voters who qualify for a special vote have until Monday, 12 October 2026 at 17h00 to submit their applications.
Special votes are meant to ensure access to the vote by persons who would otherwise not be able to participate in elections on 4 November 2026. There are two broad categories of special votes:
- The first are home visit special votes, for persons who are unable to present physically at a voting station owing to physical condition. This category of voters if approved are visited at a place of confinement which must be in a voting district in which the voter is registered.
- The second category of special votes relate to voters who can present physically at their voting station but cannot vote at their voting station on voting day. This category of voters will, if approved, vote at their voting station on the two days preceding election day.
The Electoral Commission advises voters who may be away from their voting districts on 4 November 2026, including those working in essential services and the media, that they qualify to apply for a special vote.
How to Apply
Applications can be made as follows: - Via the Website (www.elections.org.za),
- By SMSing your identity number to 32249 (R1.00 per SMS). (For special vote at a voting station ONLY)
By visiting your local IEC office (not the national or provincial offices) and submitting a Special Vote Application form. Forms can only be hand-delivered (no emails or faxes accepted), but someone else can deliver your completed form on your behalf.
It is important to remind eligible voters that they may cast their special vote at the voting station where they are registered. In cases where a home visit has been approved, the special vote will be conducted at the voter’s registered address within the voting district.
For media queries: Please contact Kate Bapela on 082 600 6386
For media interviews: Email requests to spokesperson@elections.org.za
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