{
  "id": 7828354,
  "title": "Applications for special votes for 2026 LGE open 21 September",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/applications-for-special-votes-for-2026-lge-open-21-september",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T16:49:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/applications-for-special-votes-for-2026-lge-open-21-september/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Applications for special votes for the 2026 local government elections (LGE) will open on September 21st, according to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Eligible individuals include those who are unable to visit a voting station in person, essential service workers, media personnel, and voters who can attend their voting station but are unable to cast their vote on election day. The IEC presented the final candidate list for the upcoming LGE elections to the media at its headquarters in Centurion. The Commission's Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo, explained that the 21st of September, 2026 will mark the opening of special vote applications, with the application deadline set for October 12th, 2026, at 5pm. The purpose of special votes is to ensure that individuals who would otherwise be unable to participate in the election on November 4th, 2026, can still exercise their right to vote.",
  "summary": "The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) updated the media earlier at its headquarters.",
  "key_points": [
    "Special vote applications for 2026 LGE open September 21st",
    "Eligible voters include those unable to visit stations in person",
    "Application deadline is October 12th, 2026, at 5pm"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}