Staff Reporter
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has officially launched its 2026 Local Government Elections campaign, urging South Africans, particularly young people, to register and vote ahead of the municipal elections scheduled for November 4.
Launching the campaign on Wednesday, the Commission unveiled a nationwide awareness drive under the slogan “Get Up, Show Up, Vote”, aimed at encouraging civic participation and strengthening democracy.
The IEC said the campaign will run across television, radio, digital and social media platforms to ensure broad public reach ahead of the elections. “The 2026 Local Government Elections take place amid notable changes in domestic and global political landscapes,” the Commission said.
The launch also marks the beginning of intensified voter awareness ahead of the national voter registration weekend set for June 20 and 21. Nearly 24,000 registration stations across 4,488 municipal wards will be open to allow citizens to register and verify their details. The IEC said preparations for the elections were already at an advanced stage following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of the election date.
Particular focus is being placed on youth participation amid concerns about declining voter turnout among younger South Africans. According to the Commission, more than 97,000 students have already been reached through its Tertiary Institutions Campaign conducted across all nine provinces. Over 45,000 students have successfully registered to vote. The Commission has also deployed more than 800 Municipal Outreach Coordinators nationwide, including persons with disabilities, to drive voter education and awareness campaigns.
Since the beginning of the year, over 62,000 community engagement events have been conducted across the country. To combat misinformation ahead of the elections, the IEC announced plans to introduce a draft Code of Conduct on Misinformation for public comment. The Commission warned that while social media improves access to information and public participation, it can also be vulnerable to manipulation and misleading content that may undermine electoral credibility.
Several new digital initiatives have also been introduced to increase voter participation and accessibility.
These include the online voter registration portal, the IEC Podcast, and a youth-focused television series titled Beats for My Peeps, which will air on SABC1 from June 3. The programme uses music, culture and digital creators to encourage young people to vote and address voter apathy. The IEC also revealed that registered voters now stand at more than 27.9 million people nationwide.
South Africans have been encouraged to use the upcoming registration weekend to either register or confirm their voting details.Citizens can register online through the IEC website or visit their nearest Electoral Commission office during working hours.
