Over 23 000 voting stations to open for IEC registration weekend

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says it has successfully delivered all essential voter registration materials to voting stations across all nine provinces ahead of this weekend’s voter registration drive for the 2026 local government elections.

The commission has called on eligible citizens to register, verify, or update their details ahead of the elections scheduled for November.

IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo says all 23 706 voting stations nationwide will be open from 08:00 to 17:00 on Saturday and Sunday.

Mamabolo says, “This materials include the voter management device, stationary packs, directional signage, and document storage boxes. A stock of 39 000 voter management devices is available to service registration centres across the country. This devices are central to modern voter registration operations and enable real time citizen verification, the accurate capture of voter details and seamless integration of registration data into the voters roll.”

LGE 2026 | National Voter Registration Weekend tomorrow and on Sunday

The IEC says the voters’ roll currently stands at 28 million registered voters, an increase from the 27.7 million recorded during the 2024 general elections. The commission says online registration continues to contribute to the growth of the voters’ roll.

According to the IEC, KwaZulu-Natal has the highest number of registration stations at 5 021, followed by the Eastern Cape with 4 984 and Limpopo with 3 317.

The commission has appointed and trained 48 212 registration staff members to manage the process. Of those appointed, 37 994 are women and 22 599 are under the age of 35.

The IEC has also urged young people, particularly first-time voters aged between 18 and 19, to use the registration weekend to enlist on the voters’ roll. The commission says more than 70 percent of citizens in this age category are still not registered to vote.

Citizens are required to present a South African identity document, Smart ID card, green barcoded ID book, or valid Temporary Identity Certificate when registering or updating their details. Proof of address is not required, although voters must provide details of their ordinary place of residence.

The IEC has encouraged South Africans to make use of the voter registration weekend on 20 and 21 June to ensure their details are correctly captured on the voters’ roll ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

Voter Registration Weekend: Just 1 Day to Go!
National Voter Registration Weekend: 20–21 June 2026. Registration stations open from 8h00 – 17h00 Make sure you’re ready to participate when it matters most.

Find your voting station here:https://t.co/uV0zCHVzWS pic.twitter.com/ibyVEaKmsf

— IEC South Africa (@IECSouthAfrica) June 19, 2026