The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) on Tuesday announced that a nationwide voter registration weekend would take place on June 20 and 21, ahead of the upcoming local government elections, the date for which has yet to be announced.

IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo was briefing the nation on the commission’s state of readiness and latest developments in the electoral landscape as preparations gather momentum toward the elections.

He pointed out that the timing of the registration weekend aligns with the current planning assumption that the Commission must stand ready to administer elections whenever they are lawfully called.  

“This alignment ensures procedural certainty, operational readiness and full compliance with the legal framework,” he added.

He said discussions with Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa were at an advanced stage, assuring the public that an election date would be proclaimed after the registration weekend.

The municipal council term expires on November 1 and the general elections would fall between November 2 and the end of January 2027.

The IEC reminded all eligible South Africans to register to vote where they ordinarily reside.

“Once the election date has been announced, they must vote where they are registered,” said Mamabolo.

The proclamation of the election date will formally trigger the certification and publication of the voters’ roll and inspection of the voters’ roll and the lodging of objections.

It will also include the consideration and adjudication of objections by the IEC, as well as the submission of candidate nominations and the applicable cut-off deadlines.

The Commission’s position is that an early announcement of an election date is critical, as this directly determines where South Africans register.

“For instance, a student studying in one province but ordinarily residing in another, must know whether they will be on campus or at home when the country votes. That clarity ensures they register correctly and avoids unnecessary administrative complications closer to election day,” Mamabolo pointed out.

He clarified that in a local government election, there is no legal facility to vote outside of the voting station of registration.

“This is a necessary requirement as it ensures that voters vote in a ward that has a relationship with their place of ordinary residence. In other words, voters vote for ward councillors to represent the communities in which they live,” he explained.

ONLINE AND NEW REGISTRATIONS

Mamabolo pointed out that the IEC is observing a steady increase in the number of South Africans using the online self-registration platform.

“More citizens are also taking advantage of outreach initiatives to register and update their details, reflecting a growing confidence in both our digital and in-person registration channels,” he said.

He explained that the nationwide Online Voter Registration Campaign is starting to bear fruit, noting that between November 2025 and March 2026, a total of 260 205 new registrations were recorded.

“…of these, 128 113 voters registered through our Voter Management Devices (VMDs), while 132 092 registered via the online self-service portal,” he said.

He stated that the current registration activity is a crucial reversal of the net loss on the voters’ roll owing to mortality.

He explained that ordinarily, voter registration numbers decline in the period between two elections.

“The gains in the numbers reflect the Commission’s concerted efforts to encourage voter registration and to increase voter registration opportunities,” he said.