IEC assures voters they will not be turned away if they arrive before 9pm - TimesLIVE

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has assured voters that they will be allowed to cast their ballots even if voting is extended beyond the official 9pm closing time, provided they arrive at their registered voting stations before the deadline.

This comes as voting enters its final hours in the 2026 local government elections, with preliminary figures showing that 12-million voters had cast their ballots across the country by 5pm on Wednesday.

Speaking during a media briefing on election day progress, IEC chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo urged eligible voters who had not yet voted to make their way to their registered voting stations before 9pm.

“With just three hours remaining before voting stations close at 9pm tonight, the Electoral Commission urges eligible voters who have not yet voted to visit the voting stations where they are registered before voting closes.

“The commission reassures voters that anyone who arrives at a voting station before 9pm will be allowed to vote, even if the voting process extends beyond the official closing time. This means that voters who are in the queue by 9pm will not be turned away,” he said.

Mamabolo encouraged voters not to wait until the last minute, but to use the remaining hours to exercise their democratic right.

“We, however, encourage voters not to leave it until the last minute, but to use the remaining time to visit voting stations,” he said.

Gauteng recorded the highest number of voters with 3-million people having cast their ballots by 5pm.

KwaZulu-Natal followed with 2.5-million while the Western Cape recorded 1.5-million voters and the Eastern Cape 1.4-million.

Mamabolo said voting had progressed well across the country despite a few isolated incidents.

“Voting has progressed well across the country, notwithstanding a few isolated incidents,” he said.

He also said that the commission had made arrangements to ensure voting stations affected by electricity outages had generators and alternative lighting facilities to prevent disruptions during the counting process.

“As voting enters the evening period, adequate arrangements have been made to ensure the availability of generators and alternative lighting facilities at voting stations in areas that have experienced electricity outages, thereby ensuring that the counting process proceeds without unnecessary disruption,” he said.

The IEC said counting would begin at every voting station shortly after voting officially closes.

“The commission is pleased with encouraging turnout at many voting stations across the country. The counting of results will commence at every voting station soon after the closing of voting stations,” Mamabolo said.