IEC says preparations for 2026 local govt elections 'well underway'
Presenting its strategic plan for this financial year to the Home Affairs committee, the IEC outlined several key milestones on the road to being ready for a 2026 election date.
IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo briefs the media at Results Operations Centre in Midrand on 30 May 2024, on progress made in vote counting across country. Picture: GCIS
CAPE TOWN - The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says it’s well on track to prepare for a November 2026 local government election.
Although legally the next municipal poll only needs to take place by February 2027, the commission on Tuesday presented its action programme to Parliament, in the event that the next poll is held exactly five years since the 2021 election.
The commission estimates the next poll will cost at least R2.7 billion.
Presenting its strategic plan for this financial year to the Home Affairs committee, the IEC outlined several key milestones on the road to being ready for a 2026 election date.
This includes voter registration drives, election dry runs and the testing of its voting devices.
The IEC's chief executive officer, Sy Mamabolo, says regular verification meetings will now be held to check whether the IEC’s performance would meet the milestones.
“I can confirm that preparations for local government elections 2026/27 are well underway.”
The commission has reiterated that electronic voting won’t be used in the next poll.
“The intention really is at this stage, is to look at the policy framework.”
The commission said it wants to deregister the dozens of political parties on its books, which are neither active nor plan to contest elections.
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