IEC urges voters to register or update details during June 20–21 registration weekend

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) is asking eligible citizens to use the voter registration weekend on 20 and 21 June to register, verify or update their details ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

Where and when

The IEC said 23,706 registration stations will be open across the country from 8am to 5pm on both days. The commission confirmed it has delivered registration materials to the country’s nine provinces and deployed 39,000 voter management devices to registration stations.

What you must bring

Voters must present a South African identity document when registering. The IEC listed acceptable documents as a smart ID card, a green barcoded identity document or a temporary identity certificate. The commission emphasised that proof of residence is not required for registration.

“A proof of address is not a requirement. But the place of ordinary residence is required,” IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said.

The IEC said if an applicant does not have a named address, they may provide sufficient details of their residence so registration officials can locate them in the appropriate ward segment of the voters’ roll.

Why address details matter

The commission explained that accurate address information is important for local government elections because voters are assigned to specific wards and voting districts based on where they live. “In local government elections, voters vote in the voting district in which they are registered. There is no statutory mechanism to vote outside of the voting district in which you are registered,” Mamabolo said.

He added: “The abiding and operational principle in that regard is that a voter may not vote for a ward councillor in a ward in which they do not reside.”

Preparation and readiness

The IEC said it conducted a targeted campaign in May to reach voters affected by municipal boundary changes. During that campaign the commission visited more than 303,000 affected voters, added 51,000 new voters to the roll and updated the registration details of 252,000 voters.

The IEC also said it had conducted external reviews of its registration application and online registration portal, and that identified findings had been remediated. “Overall, at normal load volume, both the registration portal and the registration app have been found to be ready for use this weekend,” Mamabolo said.

The commission welcomed the Department of Home Affairs’ decision to provide identity document services during the registration weekend to assist citizens who require documentation for registration.

How to register or check your status

• Visit a voter registration station on 20 or 21 June.
• Use the IEC’s online voter registration portal or mobile app.
• Register at local IEC offices by appointment.
• Use the IEC’s online voting station locator to find your voting district.
• Check your registration status via the IEC website, portal, mobile app or WhatsApp chatbot.
• Send your identity number by SMS to 32810.
• Contact the IEC’s toll-free call centre on 0800 11 8000 during announced periods.

Commission’s message

“We call on all eligible South Africans to take full advantage of the registration weekend on 20 and 21 June to register, to verify and update their details in the voters’ roll,” Mamabolo said. He added that the IEC is committed to delivering free, fair and credible elections and urged citizens to play their part through active registration and participation.