Special vote applications increased by 131% from 2021 LGE: IEC

The number of eligible voters applying for special votes ahead of the 2026 Local Government Election (LGE) has increased by approximately 131 percent from the last LGE in 2021.

This is according to the IEC which briefed the media on the outcome of the special votes application process which ran from 21 September to the 12th of October.

The electoral body has revealed that it approved the 678 000 home visit applications for the sick and infirm, an increase of 33 percent from 2021 figure of 507 000.

Approval of voter station-based applications, for those who cannot vote at their registered voting station on 4 November, stands at 1.1 million, compared to 602 000 in 2021, an increase of 227 percent.

IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo reflected on the gender and age patterns related to the data.

“Women account for a larger share of applications in both categories comprising 74 percent of home visit applications and 64 percent of voting station visit applications.

Age data for home visits also show that voters aged 60 years and older account for just under 80 percent of all home visits applications with the 70 to 79 cohort representing the largest segment therefore shows that home visits are predominately utilised by older voters particularly older women while voting station applications reveal a younger and more diverse demographic profile.”