The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has reported a smooth and efficient start to the national voter registration weekend, with more than 330 000 registration transactions completed by midday on Saturday.
The registration weekend, which runs from Saturday, 20 June to Sunday, 21 June, is aimed at giving eligible South Africans an opportunity to register to vote for the first time or update their voter details ahead of the elections scheduled for 4 November 2026.
Speaking during a media briefing on Saturday, IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said voting stations across the country opened at 8am, with close to 100% of the countryโs 23 706 voting stations operational on time.
The Commission said the registration process was running smoothly across South Africa, supported by 48 212 electoral staff members deployed nationwide.
By midday, more than 330 000 voters had successfully completed registration transactions at voting stations, while more than 300 000 registrations were processed through Voter Management Devices.
The IEC also recorded strong activity on its online voter registration platform, with about 30 000 voters registering or updating their details online on the first day alone.
The Commission said the response reflected strong public interest in both in-person and digital voter registration services.
Youth and first-time voter participation was also identified as a positive development, with KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape leading in registrations recorded among first-time voters.
โThe Electoral Commission is encouraged by the growing number of first-time voters,โ the IEC said, adding that the participation of young people remained an important indicator of democratic engagement.
Voters have been reminded that they must register in the voting district where they ordinarily live and will vote at the voting station where they are registered.
Eligible voters must bring a Smart ID card, green barcoded ID book or temporary identity certificate when registering. Proof of address is not required, although voters are encouraged to provide an address or a description of their ordinary place of residence to help the Commission allocate them to the correct voting district.
Registration stations will remain open from 8am to 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
Voters can also register or update their details online through the IECโs voter registration portal. The online platform will remain available until midnight on the day an election is officially proclaimed.
Residents can check their registration details online, contact the IEC on 0800 11 8000, or SMS their ID number to 32810.
The IEC has urged eligible South Africans to use the remaining registration hours this weekend to secure their place on the votersโ roll.
โRegister. Update. Participate. Every registration matters and every voter counts,โ the Commission said.
