South Africans who cannot cast a ballot in person on election day had until 5 p.m. on Monday to apply for a special vote in the 2026 local government elections, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said.
Special votes are intended to ensure access to the vote for people who would otherwise be unable to participate on November 4, allowing eligible voters to cast their ballots early, either at a designated voting station or, where approved, at home. The commission urged all eligible citizens to apply before the deadline to avoid missing the opportunity to vote early.
Voters could apply through the IEC's official website or by sending their identity number by SMS to 32249, at a cost of R1.00 per message, for a special vote at a designated voting station. The local elections will choose councils across South Africa's municipalities for the next term.
