Record number of South Africans to cast special votes

A record number of South Africans are expected to vote in the two days leading up to voting day next week. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says it is heartened by the huge increase in special votes for the 2026 Local Government Elections. Nearly 10% of the 29.2 million registered voters have applied for special votes. Police, the army, media workers and healthcare workers have historically voted first during special voting days ,as well as the elderly and those not physically able to visit voting stations. 26-year-old journalist, Karabo Siyoko will make her mark for the first time on Monday during special votes day. She is being deployed to cover the elections for SABC News outside her voting district. Siyoko elaborates, “I applied for a special vote because it’s convenient, as I’m deploying to another city. I won’t be here on election day, and I don’t want to miss out on voting. That’s why I applied for a special vote.” Nationally 2.6 million special votes have been approved by the IEC. LGE 2026 | IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo says 29.2 million South Africans have registered to vote, while 2.6 million are registered for special votes ahead of next week’s elections. https://t.co/wOe1t3h5Hd — SABC News (@SABCNews) October 28, 2026 The highest number ever. In the Northern Cape, the IEC says over 130 000 people applied for special votes on Monday and Tuesday next week up from 90 000 special votes in 2021. IEC representative, Alkin Topkin says ,“It’s heartening in the sense that you’re splitting out your voting days now, because special votes take place on the second and the third, and then on the fourth is election day itself.” “So, where you have 135 applications for day one and two, you’re already reducing the potential congestion and long queues that you may experience come the fourth.” Most of the special votes were applied for, using online tools. Siyoko and Topkin explain, “The process was not long. I think it took me less than two minutes. It was just easy. You put in your details and indicate where you want to cast your special vote, and then that’s it. You’re done.” “Also, the ease of access through online applications has really made our lives so much easier. You don’t have to consider office operating hours from 8 to 5. You can access our online systems at any time of the day, and the online facility for 2026 has been enhanced in such a manner that you literally spend a minute and then get confirmation of your application. And, like I say, you can do this anywhere, anytime.” Those who applied for special votes, will have to visit the voting stations where they are registered between 8am and 5 pm on Monday or Tuesday. – Reporting by Warren Engelbrecht