By Marcus Moloko
As South Africa gets ready for the 2026 Local Government Elections, here are some interesting facts behind this week’s special voting process.
- More than 2.6 million people are voting early
A total of 2,655,067 South Africans have been approved to cast special votes before Election Day on 4 November. - Gauteng leads the pack
With 480,721 approved special voters, Gauteng has the highest number of special voters in the country. - Nearly 680,000 home visits planned
The IEC will visit 678,525 voters at their homes over two days because of physical infirmity or disability. - Almost 2 million voters will visit voting stations early
A 1,976,542 approved voters will cast their special votes at their registered voting stations on Monday and Tuesday. - 127,000 election officials on duty
The IEC has deployed approximately 127,000 electoral officials to help manage special voting and ensure a smooth process nationwide. - Nine provinces, one mission
Every province has more than 100,000 approved special voters, highlighting the scale of South Africa’s election machinery. - Voting starts bright and early
Special voting stations will open from 08:00 to 17:00 on both Monday and Tuesday. - Your vote won’t be counted immediately
Special votes are securely stored and only counted alongside all other ballots after voting closes on Election Day. - Weather could play a role
Rain is expected in parts of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape, while hotter conditions are forecast for the North West, Limpopo, Northern Cape and Free State. - Checking your voting status is just a message away
Voters can verify their special voting status via SMS to 32711, or use the IEC WhatsApp line on 0600 88 0000.
Did you know?
The number of approved special voters, 2.65 million, is larger than the entire population of several major South African cities, making special voting a significant part of the country’s democratic process.
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