The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has confirmed that electronic voting will not be implemented in the upcoming 2026 local government elections. This announcement follows an international conference held last month to explore the feasibility of introducing e-voting in South Africa.
Although e-voting will not be used in the next polls, the IEC has launched a six-month public participation process, running from April to September this year. During this period, the Commission will receive written submissions from stakeholders, political parties, voters, and civil society to inform the development of a final policy document on electronic voting.
This policy document will be presented to Parliament for consideration in 2026.
The recent conference concluded that for e-voting to be viable, South Africa would need to build a solid technological foundation, including secure servers, consistent power supply, and reliable internet access. It also highlighted the potential benefits of e-voting, such as increased accessibility for persons with disabilities and bridging institutional challenges like low literacy levels and unequal internet access.
IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said preparations are already underway for the 2026 local elections, which must take place between November 2026 and January 2027, following the last municipal election held on 1 November 2021.
Mamabolo reiterated that no final decision has been made regarding the adoption of e-voting: “The submissions will enhance and inform the final policy document on e-voting in the country. It is important to note that the Commission has not yet decided on the use of e-voting.”