IN PICS: Special voting begins ahead of South Africa’s 2026 municipal elections - IOL

Special voting South Africa – 2 November 2026 – Special voting for South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections got underway nationwide on Monday, with eligible voters casting their ballots ahead of Wednesday’s election on 4 November. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) approved a record 2,655,067 special-vote applications, representing a 131% increase compared with the 1,147,759 approved for the 2021 municipal elections. Special voting continues on Tuesday, 3 November. Picture: Leon Lestrade / ANA Studio.

Special voting for South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections began nationwide on Monday, with millions of eligible voters casting their ballots ahead of the main election day on Wednesday, November 4.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) approved a record 2,655,067 special-vote applications, marking a 131% increase from the 1,147,759 applications approved during the 2021 municipal elections. Special voting will continue on Tuesday, November 3.