Last chance to register: IEC urges South Africans to secure their vote before roll closes

The Electoral Commission (IEC) has urged eligible South Africans not to miss the final in-person voter registration weekend, warning that the opportunity to register or update voting details will end before the 2026 Local Government Elections are proclaimed.

Speaking on Wednesday, Electoral Commission CEO Sy Mamabolo said voting stations across the country will be open from 8am to 5pm on Saturday, 1 August, and Sunday, 2 August, giving unregistered voters and those who have changed addresses one last chance to secure their place on the voters' roll.

Mamabolo said the Commission has completed all operational preparations, with 23,699 voting stations set to open nationwide and more than 48,000 trained electoral officials deployed to assist voters.

The IEC is also encouraging registered voters to verify that their addresses and personal details are correct to avoid any issues when voting.

The Commission said the first registration weekend in June generated more than 3 million registration transactions, while a further 815,000 transactions have since been recorded, with nearly three-quarters completed through the online voter registration portal.

Online registrations have been strongest in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape, while women account for 61% of online registrations. Young people aged 16 to 29 have also embraced the digital platform, making up half of all online registration activity.

To support the registration drive, the Department of Home Affairs will extend its services over the weekend to assist eligible voters who need identity documents.

Mamabolo said once the registration weekend concludes and the election date is officially proclaimed by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the voters' roll will close at midnight on the day of the proclamation. No new registrations or changes to voter details will be accepted after that point until the elections have been held.

The IEC has also activated its online candidate nomination system for political parties and independent candidates and reminded all participants that the Electoral Code of Conduct is now in force, calling for free, fair and peaceful campaigning ahead of the municipal elections.

The Commission has urged voters to avoid waiting until the last minute, warning that late registration surges often place unnecessary pressure on registration systems and services.