South Africa Prepares to Announce 2026 Local Election Results

The Electoral Commission of South Africa is scheduled to announce the final results of the 2026 local government elections at 18:00 on November 8 at the National Results Operations Centre in Midrand, Gauteng. The announcement follows elections held on November 4, with special voting conducted on November 2 and 3. President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the ceremony at the Gallagher Convention Centre to deliver brief remarks.

Preliminary data indicates a significant shift in the local government landscape, with more than 100 municipal councils remaining hung. This outcome will require the formation of coalition governments to maintain municipal governance and service delivery across the country for the next five years. Police have already conducted security sweeps at the venue in preparation for the event, which will be broadcast live on the commission's digital platforms.

Separately, in Montgomery County, Ohio, the local election board has begun the official canvass of ballots from the November 3 general election. Officials are processing over 4,000 provisional and outstanding ballots that could determine the outcome of a close race for the 37th House District and a levy for Dayton Public Schools.