Special voting opens for 2.65 million South Africans

More than 2.65 million South Africans have been approved to cast special votes on Monday and Tuesday, ahead of the local government elections on Wednesday, 4 November.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has deployed 127,000 electoral officials, Wendy Dondolo reports for IOL.

Of the 2,655,067 approved special voters, 678,525 qualify for home visits and 1,976,542 will vote at their registered voting stations.

Gauteng has the most approved special voters, at 480,721, followed by the Eastern Cape with 401,971 and KwaZulu-Natal with 348,971. KwaZulu-Natal accounts for the largest number of home visits, at 143,714.

Voting stations will open from 8am to 5pm on both days. Approved voters must attend the station where they are registered and present a valid South African identity document.

Voters approved for home visits must remain at their supplied addresses until assisted.

Officials will not return if voters are absent, although those who miss a visit can still vote at their registered stations on Wednesday.

Special ballots will remain secured until they are reconciled and counted with election-day votes.

Sources: IOL, 1 November 2026; SAnews, 1 November 2026, reporting the IEC briefing.