Logistics Failures Disrupt Special Voting in Cape Town
The Electoral Commission of South Africa reported widespread delays in Cape Town due to ballot printing issues during the first day of special voting.
Special voting for the 2026 Local Government Elections began on November 2 across South Africa. While the Electoral Commission of South Africa reported that nearly 99% of voting stations nationwide opened on time, a major logistics failure severely disrupted operations in the Cape Town metro.
Printing and packaging delays left 217 voting stations across 33 wards unable to open at the scheduled 8:00 a.m. start time. By 10:30 a.m., only 10 of 116 wards in the city had open stations. The commission confirmed that the disruptions were isolated to the metro, with the rest of the Western Cape province remaining smooth. Officials opened stations dynamically as ballot shipments arrived, and the commission later confirmed all outstanding ballots reached its central distribution facility.
The first day of voting was further marred by two incidents involving officials: a Presiding Officer in the North West province died after collapsing at her post, and a Deputy Presiding Officer in the uKhahlamba district was hospitalized after being hit by a car.
Special voting continues through November 3 for pensioners, the infirm, and those working on election day, ahead of the ordinary municipal election on November 4.
