Applications for special votes for South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections have opened, giving eligible voters who cannot vote at their registered voting station on election day an opportunity to cast their ballots early.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) opened the application process on Monday, 21 September.
Voters have until Monday, 12 October at 17:00 to submit their applications.
The local government elections will take place on Wednesday, 4 November.
Special votes are intended to ensure that registered voters who cannot participate on election day because of their circumstances are still able to vote.
Two types of special votes
There are two broad categories of special votes.
The first is a home visit special vote for voters who are physically unable to travel to or present themselves at a voting station.
If the application is approved, IEC officials will visit the voter at their place of confinement. The address must be within the voting district where the voter is registered.
The second category is for voters who are able to physically reach their voting station but cannot vote there on 4 November.
If approved, these voters will cast their ballots at their registered voting station on 2 or 3 November, before election day.
The IEC has also advised voters who expect to be away from their voting districts on election day, including people working in essential services and the media, to apply if they meet the requirements for a special vote.
How to apply
Eligible voters can apply for a special vote in three ways:
Online: Through the IEC website at www.elections.org.za
SMS: Send your identity number to 32249 at a cost of R1 per SMS. This option is for voting-station special votes only
IEC office: Visit your local IEC office and submit a completed special vote application form
Manual applications must be hand-delivered to the local IEC office. The completed form may be delivered by another person on the applicant’s behalf.
Important reminder for voters
A special vote is not automatically granted simply because an application has been submitted. The IEC must receive and approve the application.
Voters approved for a home visit will cast their ballot at their approved address within their registered voting district.
Those approved for a voting-station special vote will vote at the voting station where they are registered.
The IEC has urged eligible voters not to wait until the deadline to submit their applications as preparations are required to facilitate the special voting process.
The opening of applications marks another step in preparations for the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections.
