JOHANNESBURG – The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is gearing up for a crucial voter registration weekend on 20 and 21 June.
But Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa is yet to announce an official election date.
Beyond the logistics, the commission says the real test will be efficiency.
Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo says the IEC is working to ensure voters spend no more than 15 minutes at registration stations.
"Our voter management devices must function optimally," Mamabolo says. "It has to be a painless process."
The push comes as political participation reaches new highs.
A record 508 political parties are now registered, although historically only a fraction contest elections.
Still, the IEC expects more than 100,000 candidates to compete for just over 10,000 council seats -- significantly higher than in 2021.
This surge is likely to complicate ballot design, especially in metros like Johannesburg and Cape Town, where long lists of candidates could again be a feature.
At the heart of the registration process is one key detail: A voter’s address. The IEC stresses that accurate address information determines the ward in which a person can vote, preventing individuals from influencing outcomes in areas where they do not reside.
For many, the process won’t require a trip to a voting station at all. The IEC is encouraging voters to use its online portal to update details from home using a one-time pin system.
Those without internet access can still visit local IEC offices or make use of the June registration weekend.
Meanwhile, uncertainty remains over the election date itself.
READ: IEC pushes online voter registration ahead of 2026 municipal polls
Mamabolo says the commission hopes the announcement will come before the registration weekend, warning that holding registration without a confirmed date could dampen voter turnout.
Despite this, preparations are forging ahead, with political parties expected to submit nomination documents by the end of July once the official timetable is released.