South African municipal elections see 1.4 million special votes
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on SABC News
South Africa’s electoral commission says 1,425,942 voters took part in special voting on 2 and 3 November for the 2026 municipal elections. The ballots will be counted with those cast on 4 November, according to its chairperson Mosotho Moepya, who said 974,852 people voted at stations and 451,090 at home.
More than 1.4 million South Africans took part in the special voting for the municipal elections, held on 2 and 3 November, according to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Its chairperson, Mosotho Moepya, announced that 1,425,942 voters had cast ballots: 974,852 at voting stations and 451,090 during home visits.
Gauteng recorded the highest number of special votes, with nearly 265,000, ahead of KwaZulu-Natal (about 209,000), the Eastern Cape (more than 207,000) and Limpopo (nearly 181,000). The ballots will be counted with those cast on 4 November, election day, the IEC said.
Special voting took place over two days, following the reported opening of 99% of designated stations on 2 November, according to the update on stations opened for special voting.
