Gauteng has recorded the highest number of approved special-vote applications ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, with thousands of residents across the province preparing to cast their ballots before election day.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) announced on Wednesday, 14 October, that it had approved 2,655,067 special-vote applications nationally, representing a 131% increase compared with the 1,147,759 approved for the 2021 municipal elections.

Applications opened on 21 September and closed at 17:00 on 12 October.

Special votes allow eligible registered voters who cannot vote on election day to cast their ballots earlier. These include people who qualify for a home visit because of physical infirmity or disability, as well as those who can reach their voting station but will be unable to vote on election day.

According to the IEC, Gauteng recorded 480,721 approved applications, followed by the Eastern Cape with 401,971 and KwaZulu-Natal with 348,971.

Limpopo recorded 341,623 applications, Mpumalanga 292,775 and the Western Cape 291,866. The North West had 235,733, while the Free State recorded 132,088 and the Northern Cape 129,319.

The commission approved 678,525 applications for home visits, an increase from the 507,407 approved during the previous municipal elections. A further 1,976,542 applications were approved for voting at designated voting stations before election day.

Women accounted for 74% of home-visit applications and 64% of voting-station-based applications. Voters aged 60 and older made up 79.6% of home-visit applicants, with those aged between 70 and 79 forming the largest group.

Special voting is scheduled for 2 and 3 November, ahead of the main election on Wednesday, 4 November 2026.

The IEC also reported that more than 66% of the 79 million ballot papers required for the elections had been printed at the time of its update, with production expected to be completed by 18 October. Arrangements for all 23,696 voting stations had also been secured.

The deadline for special-vote applications has passed. Residents who applied should confirm their application status and voting arrangements with the IEC.

Voters can find official election information on the commission’s website at www.elections.org.za.