South Africans are being urged to ensure their voter registration details are up to date as the Electoral Commission prepares to open nearly 24 000 registration stations across the country this weekend.
The voter registration drive on 20 and 21 June comes less than five months before the country’s sixth democratic local government elections, scheduled for 4 November.
Registration stations will operate across all 4 488 municipal wards nationwide, allowing eligible citizens to register to vote, verify their existing registration details and confirm they are registered in the correct voting district.
Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said last month that preparations were well advanced. The Department of Home Affairs will keep offices open throughout the weekend to assist citizens who require identity documents, which are mandatory for voter registration.
The Commission has launched its 2026 election campaign under the slogan “Get Up, Show Up, Vote”, with particular attention on mobilising young voters to participate in the democratic process.
The registration weekend forms part of a broader national campaign spanning television, radio, digital and social media platforms designed to reach South Africans across the country.
Youth engagement efforts have shown encouraging results. Through the Tertiary Institutions Campaign, nearly 98 000 students have been reached, with more than 45 000 successfully completing their voter registration.
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Current figures show 27.9 million South Africans are registered on the voters’ roll, surpassing the number recorded ahead of the 2024 general elections. Between January and May this year, more than 376 000 new voter registrations were recorded, reflecting growing participation particularly among younger voters.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa expressed optimism about continued youth participation in the electoral process.
“I am confident that this time we are going to have more young people registering to vote and taking part in the elections,” Hlabisa said.
Eligible citizens can register online or visit their designated voting stations during the registration weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
Check your voter registration here.
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