The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) reported a significant surge in voters registering through its two nationwide channels ahead of the 2026 local government elections (LGE). The two channels are the online Voter Portal and Voter Management Devices (VMDs) – handheld, internet-enabled tablets that the IEC use as a primary digital channel to manage elections.
The commission reported a significant surge, with 260 205 new registrations recorded between November 2025 and March 2026. The commission stated that of these, 128 113 voters registered through VMDs while 132 092 registered via the online self-service portal.
This increase came in response to a clarion call for eligible South Africans aged 16 years and older to register and update their details on the national Online Voter Registration portal to qualify to vote in the 2026 LGE.
The IEC stated that the steady increase demonstrates that South Africans are heeding the call to register early and proactively participate in the democratic process. In addition to registering online, eligible South Africans can verify their registration status. The commission emphasised that the current registration activity is a crucial reversal of the net loss on the voters’ roll due to mortality, adding that the numbers reflect the commission’s concerted efforts to encourage voter registration and participation in elections.
In the Free State, 17 810 new voters registered through both channels, increasing the province’s voters’ roll to 1 457 163 out of an approximately 3 million total population. Nationally, 27 672 264 voters are currently registered.
