The Electoral Commission of South Africa’s (IEC) application period for Special Votes for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) will close at 5 pm on Monday, 12 October 2026.
The LGE will be held on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
“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.
“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,” the IEC said in a statement last month.
Special Vote applications can be made via the IEC’s website at www.elections.org.za or by SMSing your identity number to 32249 (R1.00 per SMS; for special vote at a voting station only).
Applications can also be submitted by visiting a local IEC office (not the national or provincial offices) and submitting a Special Vote Application form.
These forms can only be hand-delivered; no emails or faxes are accepted, but someone else can deliver the completed form on your behalf.
The two categories of eligible voters are:
- 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, is 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 relates 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.
“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,” the statement read.
Make your mark
An unprecedented 136 790 candidates have met the statutory requirements to contest the elections.
The candidates will contest seats across the country’s eight metropolitan municipalities, 44 district municipalities and 205 local municipalities.
During a recent post-cabinet media briefing, Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, called on South Africans to make their voices heard during the upcoming elections.
“Cabinet encourages all South Africans, especially young people and first-time voters, to exercise their right to vote. Every vote matters and helps to keep our democracy strong.
“Cabinet appeals to political parties and independent candidates participating in the forthcoming elections to always uphold the Electoral Code of Conduct and exercise political tolerance,” Ntshavheni stated.
Last month, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) encouraged South Africans eligible to vote who still need their identity documents (IDs) to apply to the department ahead of the elections.
Those who have not collected their IDs are also encouraged to do so as soon as possible.
“Citizens who still need to replace a lost or damaged identity document ahead of the elections are urged to make use of Home Affairs offices or the more than 450 participating bank branches to acquire their documents and not wait until the last minute.
“Home Affairs is further calling on citizens who already have their identity documents to encourage family members, friends and colleagues who do not yet have a Smart ID to apply now and collect their documents ahead of the elections,” a DHA statement read.
DHA Minister Leon Schreiber added: “A valid ID document holds the key to democratic participation in the upcoming elections.
“Home Affairs has dramatically expanded access to this critical service by rolling out digitalised Smart ID services at over 450 bank branches in just five months. I call upon South Africans to make use of our vastly improved services to apply for - and collect - their IDs without delay.”
Visit myhomeaffairsonline.dha.gov.za to find your nearest participating bank branch. – SAnews.gov.za
