Preparing to register to vote: seven key questions answered ahead of November local elections

As South Africans prepare for the 2026 Local Government Elections on 4 November 2026, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) is urging eligible citizens to check and, if necessary, update their details on the voters’ roll. With registration windows announced and multiple ways to register or verify details, the IEC has published answers to seven common questions for prospective voters.

Why register?

Registering ensures citizens can exercise their democratic right to vote in the local elections on 4 November 2026. The IEC says only those who appear on the voters’ roll will be able to cast a ballot on that day and that registration is essential for maintaining an accurate and credible voters’ roll.

The commission also emphasised that registration assigns voters to the correct ward and municipality so they can influence local governance decisions that affect daily life.

“You have the power to decide on the quality of life you want for yourself and your community, and even future generations. Voting is your chance to stand up for the issues you care about,” says the IEC.

Who can register?

The IEC states that a person must be a South African citizen and at least 16 years old to register. The commission notes that voting is permitted from the age of 18, and that voters must be registered in the voting district where they live.

How and where to register

The IEC provides several registration channels:

• Online via registertovote.elections.org.za
• At local IEC offices during office hours (by appointment)
• At voting stations during national registration events
• Through Targeted Communication and Registration drives
• During Civic and Democracy Education (CDE) outreach events

The commission advised voters to contact local offices first to arrange appointments where required.

When are registration stations open?

For the national voter registration weekend on 20 and 21 June 2026, the IEC said all 23,706 voting stations nationwide will be operational. That total includes 22,718 permanent stations, 960 temporary stations and 28 mobile stations serving remote communities. Registration stations will operate from 8am to 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

What documents do you need?

Voters must present one of the following original documents issued by the Department of Home Affairs:

• Green, barcoded ID book
• Smartcard ID
• Valid Temporary Identity Certificate (TIC)

The IEC emphasised that no other forms of identification are accepted and that only original DHA documents are accepted.

When should you update your registration details?

The IEC says voters must update their registration details whenever their personal or voting information changes. Examples provided by the commission include:

• A change of residential address
• An incomplete or previously missing address
• Issuance of a new ID number different from the old one
• A change to ward boundaries by the Municipal Demarcation Board
• Changes to voting district boundaries by the Electoral Commission

The IEC also points voters to its Voter Information Portal for registering, updating voter information, viewing current address details, requesting a special vote, finding voting locations and viewing important election dates.

How to check your registration status

The IEC lists several platforms for checking voter registration status:

• IEC website
• SMS: send your ID number to 32810
• Toll-free call centre: 0800 11 8000 (available during announced periods)
• IEC WhatsApp chatbot: 060 088 0000 (redirects to the website)
• IEC mobile app (enter ID number)
• At a voting station during registration weekends

The IEC also reported that the voters’ roll currently stands at 28 million voters, up from 27.7 million during the 2024 general elections.

With registration confirmed as a key step before election day, the commission has urged South Africans to register, verify or update their details on the voters’ roll during announced registration opportunities.