Election Day: Everything you need to know when casting your vote
South Africans vote in the 2026 Local Government Elections on Wednesday, 4 November. Voting stations will be open from 7am to 9pm. Here is what voters need to know about registration, identity documents, ballot papers and the voting process.
On Wednesday, South Africans will cast their votes in the 2026 Local Government Elections, selecting councillors and political parties to represent them in municipal councils for the next five years. Voting stations open at 7am and close at 9pm, while registered voters must vote at their registered station.
The Department of Home Affairs has extended its operating hours to help voters obtain identity documents or Temporary Identity Certificates. Voting stations will accommodate those still in line when closing time arrives. Voters can verify their registration details via the IEC website, SMS, WhatsApp, or by calling a toll-free contact centre.
To vote, voters must present a South African identity document, such as a valid Temporary Identity Certificate, driver's licence, passport, or student card. Photocopies of identity documents are not accepted. On Election Day, which is a public holiday, the IEC has encouraged voters to arrive early to allow sufficient time to complete the process.
Once at the voting station, officials verify voters' identities against the voters' roll, mark their names off, stamp their identity documents, and apply indelible ink to prevent double voting. Voters then complete their ballot papers in private voting booths, marking one clear cross next to their chosen candidate or political party on each paper. Folded ballots must be placed in designated ballot boxes, with incorrect ballots returned to the presiding officer for replacement.
Voters with physical disabilities or visual impairments may receive assistance from someone aged 18 or older who is not a candidate or party agent. Intimidation or irregularities should be reported to election officials or the IEC's toll-free contact centre at 0800 11 8000, WhatsApp (060 088 0000), or via the official website.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
