IEC Rules Out E-Voting for 2026 Local Elections

(The Post News)– The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced that electronic voting will not be implemented for the 2026 local government elections (LGE). This decision was confirmed during a meeting between IEC officials, the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature, and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to discuss preparations for the upcoming elections.

Although e-voting will not be used in the upcoming LGE, talks are already in progress about its possible adoption in the future. The IEC is presently in a consultation period that will go until September, according to Gugu Langa, the Provincial Electoral Officer.

A policy discussion document was presented at a conference in Cape Town in March. The legislature, Salga, civic society, the Mpumalanga House of Traditional and Khoisan Leaders, and other stakeholders are all actively soliciting feedback for the IEC.

During the conference, the low voter turnout, especially among young people, was another important topic. Commissioner Janet Love responded to this worry by stating that the commission is dedicated to identifying strategies to boost young involvement in collaboration with political parties and other interested parties.

Love emphasized that this problem was collaborative in nature and that the legislature made several insightful recommendations, such as the necessity of bolstering communication efforts across a range of platforms, including social media and traditional media. Although it now uses social media, the IEC wants to increase its activity.

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Malebo Pheme is a Media Studies graduate and journalist with experience across digital, print, and broadcast platforms. Passionate about impactful storytelling, her work often focuses on crime, civic issues, identity, and social justice. She brings integrity, empathy, and a community-focused voice to every story she tells.

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