Cape Town:The Electoral Commission (IEC) in the Western Cape has announced that several voting stations experienced delays in opening on the first day of Special Voting.
According to South African Government News Agency, the delays were caused by unforeseen issues in the delivery of Special Vote ballots, despite efforts by the IEC and the contracted printing company. Provincial Electoral Officer Michael Hendrickse stated that the IEC is committed to ensuring that voters who applied for Special Votes will be able to cast their votes over the designated two days, November 2 and 3, 2026.
Nationwide, a total of 2,655,067 voters have been approved for Special Votes. These votes accommodate individuals who may be unable to reach voting stations due to physical infirmity or disability, as well as voters who will not be present at their registered stations on the official Election Day, November 4, 2026.
As of 08h00 this morning, 217 voting stations in the Cape Metro were affected by the delay. Hendrickse assured that these stations are opening progressively as ballots arrive, and emphasized that all necessary security measures are in place for the transportation and delivery of the ballots. He apologized for the inconvenience caused to voters in the Cape Metro, while confirming that voting stations in the outer regions of the Western Cape are functioning smoothly.