The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is urging eligible South Africans to register to vote, update their registration details and verify their voting information during this weekend's nationwide voter registration drive.
The registration weekend, taking place on 20 and 21 June, forms part of preparations for the 2026 Local Government Elections, scheduled for 4 November.
Speaking at the IEC's state of readiness briefing on Thursday, Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said the initiative provides an important opportunity for voters to ensure their information is accurate and up to date.
"The voter registration weekend offers an opportunity to ensure that voters' details are accurately captured and updated," Mamabolo said.
He encouraged South Africans who are not yet registered to do so either online or at registration stations across the country.
Voters must be registered in the correct ward
The IEC stressed that local government elections differ from national and provincial elections, as voters are only permitted to cast their ballots at the voting station where they are registered.
"There is no statutory mechanism to vote outside of the voting district in which you are registered," Mamabolo said.
He urged voters to verify their residential addresses and ensure they are registered in the correct ward and voting district.
"The correct placement of voters in wards is crucial for the delivery of free and fair elections," he added.
The commission said its online self-service portal, introduced in 2021, has become a key tool for voter registration and updates. The system currently reflects more than 28 million registered voters.
All 23,706 registration stations across South Africa will be operational from 8am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
The stations include 22,718 permanent voting stations, 960 temporary stations and 28 mobile stations serving remote communities.
KwaZulu-Natal has the highest number of registration stations at 5,021, followed by the Eastern Cape with 4,984, Limpopo with 3,317, Gauteng with 2,832, Mpumalanga with 1,846, North West with 1,730, the Western Cape with 1,623, the Free State with 1,614 and the Northern Cape with 739 stations.
According to the IEC, the increase in registration sites compared to the 2021 local government elections is aimed at improving accessibility and encouraging greater voter participation.
The voter registration drive coincides with Youth Month and the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Soweto uprising.
Mamabolo said more than 70% of South Africans aged between 18 and 19 have yet to register to vote.
"The Commission therefore urges all eligible youth, especially first-time voters, to seize this opportunity to register and participate in the forthcoming elections," he said.
The IEC's outreach campaign at tertiary institutions has already engaged more than 269,000 students nationwide, resulting in 158,000 new voter registrations.
Additional campaigns are planned at universities and colleges in the coming months.
The IEC said all voter registration materials have been delivered to provinces and that 39,000 voter management devices will be available during the registration drive.
The devices allow officials to verify voter information in real time and can store data offline in areas with limited network coverage.
Mamabolo said independent reviews of the voter registration app and online portal confirmed that the systems are ready for use.
"The findings identified during these external reviews have been remediated," he said.
More than 42,000 staff members have been recruited and trained to assist voters over the weekend.
Of those appointed, 32,000 are women, 10,000 are men and more than 22,000 are under the age of 35. The IEC added that over 34,000 of the recruits are currently unemployed but qualified individuals, highlighting the temporary employment opportunities created through the electoral process.
The commission said it remains committed to ensuring inclusive participation in the electoral process.
It recently trained members of Blind SA on the use of the Universal Ballot Template, which enables visually impaired voters to cast their ballots independently.
In addition, 834 municipal outreach officers, including representatives from the disability sector, have been recruited to strengthen voter education and community engagement.
South Africans can register to vote, update their details or verify their registration status online, or visit their nearest registration station between 8am and 5pm this weekend.