Pretoria – The Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced that the first ballots were cast in the 2026 Local Government Elections as “special votes”.
The IEC said special votes got off to a positive start.
“Voting commenced without incident across the country this morning, 2 November 2026,” stated the IEC, adding that close to 99% of Voting Stations opened on time at 08h00.
“Special voting started slowly in the City of Cape Town Municipality,”’ the IEC said.
“By 10h30, only voting stations in 10 of the 116 wards were to open for special votes.
“No effort is being spared to ensure that the remaining voting stations open.
“The majority of cases, voters have been smoothly assisted with demonstrable improved efficiency.”
The IEC said this was largely due to the efficiency measures, including the following:
• Introduction of the handheld scanners: The IEC has deployed handheld barcode scanners integrated with digital Voter Management Devices (VMDs) to accelerate voter verification, improve accuracy, and streamline the voting process.
• Enhancement of the Voter Management Device Performance: the Commission invested a lot of effort in updating the systems, testing and re-testing the performance of the VMDs to ensure that challenges encountered in the last elections are avoided and to improve the voter experience.
• Introduction of sequence numbers: the use of sequence numbers has proven to be an effective efficiency measure, enabling election officials to locate voters on the voters’ roll more quickly and facilitating a faster, smoother voting process.
However, the IEC said it has noted some incidents affecting the election officials in KwaZulu-Natal and North West provinces.
“In uKhahlamba district, a Deputy Presiding Officer was hit by a car on her way to the Voting Station and was rushed to hospital,” the IEC said.
“In North West Province, a Presiding Officer collapsed at her post and has sadly passed on.”
The IEC said it was providing the necessary support to the affected officials and families.
Notwithstanding these unfortunate incidents, the IEC said it was establishing strong performance across the country and expects further improvement on day two of special voting.
To ensure a smooth voting experience, the Commission encourages voters to confirm their special vote status and voting arrangements before leaving home.
Special votes at voting stations may only be cast at the voting station where the voter is registered.
Since the commencement of Special Voting this morning, Voters can access assistance and verify their details through the following channels:
• WhatsApp: 0600 88 0000
• IEC Contact Centre: 0800 11 8000 SMS: 32810 (R1 per SMS)
The Contact Centre is available for election-related enquiries from 07h00 to 19h00 on Monday and Tuesday, during Special Voting, and from 07h00 to 21h00 on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
Check your voting details before leaving home
The Commission reiterates the message that voters are encouraged to confirm their voting station details and sequence numbers on the voters’ roll before setting out for their voting stations.
This can be done through the following channels:
• WhatsApp: 0600 88 0000
• IEC Contact Centre: 0800 11 8000
• SMS: 32810 (R1 per SMS)
Providing their sequence numbers to election officials on Election Day will help officials locate voters on the voters’ roll more quickly.
The Contact Centre is available for election-related enquiries from 07h00 to 19h00 on Monday and Tuesday, during Special Voting, and from 07h00 to 21h00 on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
Voters may also visit the Commission’s zero-rated website, http://www.elections.org.za, and click on the Live Chat icon.
Voting stations will remain open until 17h00 today and tomorrow for voters approved to cast their special votes at voting stations.
However, where all the approved voters have been served within the first day of special voting, the Presiding Officer will close the station and will only re-open it for normal voting on 4 November 2026. A final reminder to voters
The Commission reminds voters that they may cast their special votes only at the voting stations where they are registered and if they have successfully applied.
Voters must present a valid South African identity document before being allowed to vote.
Accepted forms of identification include a Smart ID Card, green barcoded ID book or Temporary Identity Certificate issued by the Department of Home Affairs.
The Commission thanks voters, election officials and all stakeholders for their contribution to a smooth start to Special Voting and encourages everyone to continue supporting a peaceful, credible and inclusive electoral process.
The post Local Government Elections Positive Start: Special Votes Begin Without Incident appeared first on The Bulrushes.
