Edited 22 September: The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has opened applications for Special Votes for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE).
According to the IEC “Special votes are meant to enable people to vote who otherwise will not be able to participate in elections on 4 November 2026 .”
The Special Votes Application period closes on 12 October 2026 for qualifying voters. So please inform family and friends who wish to make a Special Vote.
There are two categories of eligible voters, the IEC says:
* The first are home visit special votes for persons who are unable to present physically at a voting station owing to physical condition. These voters, if approved, are visited at a place of confinement which must be in a voting district in which the voter is registered.
* The second category of special votes relates to voters who can be physically present at their voting station but who will be away and cannot vote at their voting station on voting day. This category of voters, if approved, will be able to vote at their voting station on the two days preceding election day.
“The Electoral Commission advises voters who may be away from their voting districts on 4 November 2026, including those working in essential services and the media, that they qualify to apply for a special vote,” the IEC said.
Applications can be made via the website at http://www.elections.org.za or by SMS-ing your identity number to 32249 (R1.00 per SMS; for special vote at a voting station only).
The IEC says eligible voters may cast their special vote at the voting station where they are registered. In cases where a home visit has been approved, the special vote will be conducted at the voter’s registered address within the voting district,” the IEC said.
Applications can also be submitted by visiting a local IEC office (not the national or provincial offices) and submitting a Special Vote Application form. These forms can only be hand-delivered. No emails or faxes are accepted, but someone else can deliver the completed form on your behalf.
