News Desk Reporter
Citizens who still need to register to vote, update their details or verify their voting address have been urged to do so this weekend. It is the final in-person voter registration drive before the 2026 Local Government Elections.
Electoral Commission CEO Sy Mamabolo said anyone who has not yet registered should visit their voting station on Saturday, 1 August or Sunday, 2 August. The same applies to voters who have moved. It also applies to those who need to check that their registration details are correct.
He said the Commission had completed all operational preparations for the final registration weekend.
A total of 23,699 voting stations will be open across the country from 8 am to 5 pm on both days.
More than 48,000 trained electoral officials will assist voters with new registrations, address updates and registration checks.
The IEC reduced the number of voting districts from 23,706 to 23,699 after reviewing voter activity during the first registration weekend in June.
Mamabolo said the first registration drive, held on 20 and 21 June, recorded more than three million registration transactions. The Commission hopes to see a similar turnout this weekend.
The IEC has processed more than 815,000 registration transactions since then. About 603,572, or 74%, were completed through the Online Voter Registration portal.
According to Mamabolo, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape recorded the highest online registration activity. Women accounted for 61% of online registrations. People aged between 16 and 29 made up half of all digital registration transactions.
The Department of Home Affairs will align its operating hours with the registration weekend. This will allow eligible voters who need identity documents to access the required services.
Mamabolo said the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs is expected to announce the election date after the registration weekend.
“The voters’ roll will close at midnight on the day the election is proclaimed. From that point onwards, no new voter registrations or changes to existing voter registration details may be processed until after the elections. Consequently, the Electoral Commission will cease all registration drives and deactivate the online voter registration portal,” said Mamabolo.
“The purpose of the Code is to foster conditions for free and fair elections by creating a climate of tolerance, open public debate and free political campaigning. The Commission wishes to indicate that ‘no go’ zones go against both the letter and spirit of the Code,” said Mamabolo.
The IEC has also activated its Online Candidate Nomination System. It allows political parties and independent candidates to submit nominations.
“Experience has shown that a surge in registration activity often occurs closer to key deadlines, creating avoidable pressure on registration channels,” said Mamabolo.