2026 Local Government Elections: Key Dates and Deadlines

South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections are officially underway, with the Electoral Commission (IEC) publishing the election timetable last week ahead of polling day on Wednesday, 4 November.

The election date was formally proclaimed by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa on Friday, 7 August, triggering the country’s 89-day election timetable.

The timetable sets out the statutory deadlines and key milestones for political parties, independent candidates and voters, including the finalisation of the voters’ roll, candidate nominations, special votes and voting arrangements.

Key election dates to diarise

11 August 2026: The provisional voters’ roll will be available for inspection at IEC national, provincial and local offices. The period for lodging objections opens.
14 August 2026: The IEC will publish the list and addresses of voting stations, including routes for the country’s 32 mobile voting stations.
18 August 2026: Inspection of the provisional voters’ roll and the period for lodging objections closes.
24 August 2026: The IEC will notify objectors of its decisions.
26 August 2026: The Chief Electoral Officer will certify the final voters’ roll.
28 August 2026 at 17:00: Candidate nominations close. Political parties and independent candidates must submit their nomination documents by this deadline.
16 September 2026: The IEC will publish the final list of successful candidates.
21 September 2026: Applications for special votes open.
12 October 2026: Applications for special votes close.
2–3 November 2026: Special votes will be conducted for eligible voters who have been approved for voting station or home visits.
4 November 2026: Election Day.

The IEC says all activities prescribed in the timetable must be completed by 17:00 on the relevant cut-off dates.

Candidate nominations open

Candidate nominations officially opened on 11 August and will remain open for 21 calendar days, closing at 17:00 on 28 August.

Political parties and independent candidates can submit nominations through the Online Candidate Nomination System or by hand at the IEC office in the municipality being contested.

The Commission says both online and manual nominations will close at exactly 17:00 on 28 August, after which submissions will no longer be possible.

The final list of successful candidates will be published on 16 September, with successful candidates due to receive certificates of candidacy on 25 September.

The IEC says 119 independent candidates and 111 political parties had already started using its Online Candidate Nomination System before the formal nomination period opened.

How much do election deposits cost?

Political parties and independent candidates are required to pay election deposits. The IEC says these deposits are refundable to contestants who secure at least one seat in the applicable proportional representation election, or at least 10% of valid votes in an applicable ward election.

The required deposits are:

R4,700 for an election in a metropolitan municipality, covering all PR and ward candidates of a party.
R2,800 for an election in a local council, covering all PR and ward candidates of a party.
R1,800 for an election in a district council, covering all PR candidates.
R1,800 for an independent ward candidate, or for each party ward candidate where the party is not contesting the PR election.
R693,600 in total if contesting all municipalities.

674 political parties registered

The IEC says the register of political parties currently stands at 674 registered parties.

Of these:

330 are registered at national level.
32 are registered at provincial level.
257 are registered at district level.
55 are registered in metropolitan municipalities.

The Commission says the high number of district-level parties highlights the expected level of political contestation at community level.

Special votes

Voters who are unable to cast their ballots at their voting stations on Election Day because of physical limitations, illness, disability or other circumstances can apply for a special vote.

Applications open on 21 September and close on 12 October.

Approved voters can indicate whether they require a visit at their home or place of care, or whether they will vote at their registered voting station on 2 or 3 November.

Applications can be made online through the IEC website, by submitting a form at a local IEC office, or by registered voters applying for a voting-station special vote via SMS to 32249. The SMS costs R1.50.

Electoral Code of Conduct now in effect

The Electoral Code of Conduct has also come into effect following the proclamation of the election date.

The Code sets standards for political parties, candidates and other participants, with the aim of promoting a free, fair and peaceful electoral process.

The IEC says it will also soon promulgate an additional code dealing with measures to counter disinformation ahead of the elections.

The Commission says this is intended to promote information integrity and support the delivery of free and fair elections.