South Africa Sets Final Voter Registration Weekend for August

The Electoral Commission of South Africa is finalizing preparations for the 2026 local government elections by designating August 1 and 2 as the final weekend for in-person voter registration. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo announced the deployment of 48,212 trained officials across 23,699 voting stations, which will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To support this effort, the Department of Home Affairs will align its operating hours to ensure eligible citizens can obtain the necessary identity documents.

While the online voter registration portal remains active, the commission is urging citizens to use this final physical opportunity to register or update residency details. Parallel to these logistics, the commission is closing public consultations this Wednesday on a draft electoral code of conduct designed to establish standards for candidates and combat disinformation.

Following the registration weekend, the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, is expected to proclaim the official election date. This proclamation will formally close the voters' roll, activate the electoral code of conduct, and trigger the online candidate nomination process.