The Electoral Commission has called on all South Africans eligible to vote to register for local government elections wherever they live.

“In local government elections, there is no legal facility to vote outside the polling station of registration. This is an essential requirement as it ensures that voters vote in ward elections that relate to their place of ordinary residence,” the commission said in a media briefing on Tuesday.

The Commission announced that the National Voter Registration Weekend will take place on June 20 and 21, 2026.

What should I follow WhatsApp | Linkedin for latest headlines

It said there has been a steady increase in the number of South Africans using the online self-registration platform, RegisterToVote.org.za.

More citizens are also taking advantage of the outreach initiatives to register and update their details, indicating growing confidence in both digital and in-person registration channels.

According to the Commission, a total of 260 205 new registrations were recorded between November 2025 and March 2026.

Of these, 128 113 voters registered through Voter Management Devices (VMDs), while 132 092 registered through the online self-service portal.

“The steady increase in registrations can also be attributed to the online registration campaign, which encouraged citizens to register, update and verify their details remotely.

“The campaign ran throughout the month of February 2026 and demonstrated that South Africans are heeding the call to register early and actively participate in the democratic process.”

The Commission has also expanded its Contact Center to better assist persons seeking information on electoral processes, voter registration and related enquiries.

Government taking steps to remove barriers to obtaining ID

Meanwhile, the Home Department's partnership with banks on smart ID cards aims to make it easier for citizens to ensure that they have the required identity documents.

The partnership officially entered its live operational phase on Sunday, allowing people to apply for smart ID cards directly at participating bank branches.

Through the programme, South Africans can complete a secure Smart ID application at selected bank branches within minutes using the integrated digital system.

The system allows banks to connect directly to the department's systems through a secure digital gateway, allowing applications to be processed within five to ten minutes without completing paper forms or making prior bookings.