The Electoral Commission Calls on Voters to Use the Remaining Time to Vote
Voting has progressed well across the country, notwithstanding a few isolated incidents.
Local Government Elections 2026 Voters' Thumbs
Photo Credits Ziyaad Plaatjes
As voting enters the evening period, adequate arrangements have been made to ensure the availability of generators and alternative lighting facilities at voting stations in areas that have experienced electricity outages, thereby ensuring that the counting process proceeds without unnecessary disruption.
With just three hours remaining before voting stations close at 21h00 tonight, the Electoral Commission urges eligible voters who have not yet voted to visit the voting stations where they are registered before voting close.
The Commission reassures voters that anyone who arrives at a voting station before 21h00 will be allowed to vote, even if the voting process extends beyond the official closing time. This means that voters who are in the queue by 21h00 will not be turned away. We, however, encourage voters not to leave it until the last minute, but to use the remaining time to visit voting stations.
Preliminary voter turnout
As at 17h00 today, preliminary figures indicate that 12 million voters had cast their votes. Gauteng is recording the highest number of voters 3 million, followed by KwaZulu-Natal 2.5 million, Western Cape 1.5 million, Eastern Cape 1.4 million, Limpopo 1.1 million, Mpumalanga 854 901, North West 702 1337, Free State 588 237 and Northern Cape 299 381.
The Commission is pleased with encouraging turnout at many voting stations across the country.
Counting and results
The counting of results will commence at every voting station soon after the closing of voting stations. In summary the process is as follows:
- All ballot papers are counted at the voting station where they are cast, in the presence of party agents, independent candidate agents and accredited observers.
- Sealed ballot boxes are opened, and ballot papers are checked for the Electoral Commission's security stamp. Ballots are then sorted and counted separately for each electoral contest, namely the proportional representation (PR) ballot, ward candidate ballot and, where applicable, the district council PR ballot.
- Following the count, the results for each contest are reconciled against the ballot papers received, issued, unused, spoilt and counted at the voting station.
- Results slips are captured in duplicate, signed by the Presiding Officer, and countersigned by party agents before being displayed at the voting station as soon as counting and tallying of results is completed.
- The photographs of slips of each voting station will be Party agents are allowed to take pictures of the signed result slips.
- The results are subsequently scanned and captured at the local Electoral Commission office and subjected to verification and independent external auditing.
The Results Operations Centres provide political parties, independent candidates, observers and the media with an opportunity to monitor the capturing, verification and processing of results, reinforcing the transparency and integrity of the process.
Once counting, capturing and verification have been completed and outstanding queries resolved, the Electoral Commission will declare the final results and announce the allocation of seats in municipal councils within the prescribed seven-day period.
Appreciation
The Electoral Commission expresses its appreciation to all key role players who have contributed to the 2026 Local Government Elections, particularly political parties and independent candidates represented through the National Political Liaison Committee (NPLC), Provincial Political Liaison Committees (PPLCs) and Local Political Liaison Committees (LPLCs). These structures have provided an important platform for continuous engagement, consultation and the resolution of issues arising throughout the electoral process.
The Commission also thanks voters who have participated in the elections, as well as election officials, security agencies, observers, the media and other stakeholders for their respective contributions.
South Africans, there is still time to Get Up. Show Up. Vote!
*Information provided by the publicist.
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