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IEC tells home-visit special voters to stay at their addresses

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The Electoral Commission of South Africa says 678 525 voters are approved for home visits in the 2026 Local Government Elections. Officials will not return to an address if the voter is absent on the first visit, chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo said.

The home visits take place on 2 and 3 November. The commission has deployed 127 000 electoral officials for home visits and for special voting at voting stations. KwaZulu-Natal has the most approved home visits of any province, at 143 714.

Mamabolo spoke at a media briefing on Sunday. He said voters who miss the visit are not shut out of the election. In his words, "voters who miss the home visit by the election officials on 2 and 3 November are not disenfranchised".

Key facts

Who
Sy Mamabolo (Chief Electoral Officer of the Electoral Commission of South Africa); Electoral Commission of South Africa (election management body urging special voters to remain home)
What
The IEC urged approved home-visit special voters to stay at their addresses on 2 and 3 November 2026, warning that officials will not return to addresses where voters are absent on first arrival. It said 678 525 voters are approved for home visits and 127 000 electoral officials have been deployed.
When
1 November 2026
Where
South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Midrand
Status
Reported

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