With just hours to go before the midnight deadline for South Africans to register or update their details online ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, the Electoral Commission is set to provide an update on key dates in the election timetable.
Electoral Commission Chairperson, Commissioner Mosotho Moepya, will brief the nation today on key dates in the election timetable as the country marches towards the 4 November polls.
In a post on social media platform X, on Thursday, the Commission said: “Your vote starts with registration. Proclamation on 7 August [at] midnight. Online registration closes then.”
Voters who were unable to visit a registration station during the weekend can register or update their details through the IEC’s Online Voter Registration portal before the registration period closes.
The registration portal can be accessed on: https://registertovote.elections.org.za
Voters can also register via WhatsApp. To use the service, voters can WhatsApp “Hi” to 0600 88 0000. The platform uses secure identity verification, including one-time password authentication, ID document uploads, address verification, and voting-station confirmation.
Citizens can register from the age of 16, although only those who are 18 or older are eligible to vote.
The IEC has also stressed the importance of ensuring that registration details are correct, particularly for voters who have moved. In local government elections, voters must vote at the voting station where they are registered, meaning those who have changed addresses should update their details before the deadline.
Voters can check their registration status by SMSing “myID” followed by their ID number to 32810.
The IEC’s contact centre, 0800 11 8000, is also available to assist with registration queries.
In terms of Section 159 of the Constitution, read together with the Municipal Structures Act, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) is responsible for proclaiming the date of local government elections, which must be held within 90 days after the expiry of a municipality’s five-year term.
The proclamation and gazetting of the election date will result in the closure of the voters' roll for the 2026 elections. -SAnews.gov.za
