IEC explains vote-counting process ahead of local government elections

Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sy Mamabolo says votes in the 2026 local government elections will be counted at the voting stations where they were cast to prevent possible interference during transportation.

Mamabolo explained the process as South Africans prepare to head to the polls on Wednesday, 4 November.

IEC CLARIFIES VOTE-COUNTING PROCESS

Earlier this week, Mamabolo told Newzroom Afrika that ballots would be counted at the voting stations, eliminating the need to transport them and potentially exposing them to interference.

“As soon as the voting station closes, it will be converted into a counting station. Party agents will observe the counting process, as well as observers as they may be. Just as a matter of interest, the Commission has accredited over 100 observer organisations.

“Upon the conclusion of counting, a result slip will then be generated and party agents will be expected to sign that result slip as confirmation that the votes attributed to their party, candidate or independent candidate are correct,” the IEC CEO explained.

COMMISSION INTRODUCES NEW MEASURES TO PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY

Mamabolo said one of the new measures that the IEC has introduced for the 2026 local government elections would allow political parties and their agents to photograph result slips before they leave voting stations.

This would ensure that parties have photographic copies of the results recorded at each voting station.

“The presiding officer will also have to announce the outcome of the count at that voting station, so that members of the community in the affected voting district are aware of the outcome.

“The result slip will then be taken to the local capturing site, where it will be captured on the double-capture system on the results system and thereafter audited by independent auditors, who will compare the result slip against what is captured on the results system,” he added.