South African local elections: 91% waited less than 30 minutes
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on SAnews
A survey by South Africa’s Human Sciences Research Council indicates that 91% of voters waited no more than 30 minutes before voting, while 95% said they were satisfied with the electoral service. The study also found generally convenient access to voting stations, according to the Human Sciences Research Council.
During South Africa’s 2026 local elections, 91% of voters waited no more than 30 minutes before voting, reversing the deterioration in waiting times observed during the 2024 national and provincial elections. The figure comes from the Human Sciences Research Council’s (HSRC) 2026 voter satisfaction survey, presented by its researcher Ben Roberts.
The survey also found that 90% of voters took no more than 30 minutes to reach their voting station. Satisfaction with the service provided by Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) officials reached 95%, a level considered comparable with previous elections. Among the six criteria assessed, assistance provided to voters received the highest rating, with 79% of respondents giving very positive responses, followed by patience and professionalism, at 78% each.
Accessibility of voting stations for elderly and disabled people was considered satisfactory by 86% of voters, according to the HSRC. Officials’ impartiality received the lowest rating among the six criteria, with 65% of voters considering that it was respected to a large extent.
Shorter queues brought their level back to that recorded during the 2021 local elections, after the increase observed in 2024, according to the HSRC. The survey was conducted to assess voters’ experience on election day.
