The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) is entering its final phase of operational readiness ahead of the final voting station-based registration weekend and is urging voters to make use of the opportunity before the voter’s roll closes.

As voters prepare to register on Saturday and Sunday, the commission expects that Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa will officially proclaim the 2026 local government election date.

This looming proclamation carries strict legal deadlines for voters and political parties and triggers an immediate freeze on voter data.

While President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the election date as November 4, that did not constitute the formal proclamation of the election date.

IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo stressed that the voters’ roll will close at midnight on the exact day the election is proclaimed, warning that no new registrations can be processed and no changes to existing voter registration details will be allowed after.

He explained that online portals for voter registration will be permanently deactivated, and all active registration drives by the commission will cease.

He urged voters to use this final registration weekend to ensure their names and physical addresses are correctly captured before the midnight cutoff.

The proclamation also marks the legal commencement of the Electoral Code of Conduct, issued under the Municipal Electoral Act.

The code remains active until the final election results are officially announced.

According to Mamabolo, the code is designed to safeguard the democratic process by fostering political tolerance across all communities, open public debate without fear of retaliation and free political campaigning for all participants.

The IEC warned against the creation of "no-go" zones, stating they violate the letter and the spirit of the code.

All registered political parties, independent candidates, office bearers, and party leaders are legally bound by these rules, he reminded.

With the election timeline spinning into motion, the candidate nomination process for both party-affiliated and independent candidates can begin.

The IEC has officially activated its Online Candidate Nomination System on its website to streamline submissions.

Following the Minister's official proclamation, the IEC will formally gazette a comprehensive Election Timetable.

Mamabolo explained that this document will dictate all critical cut-off dates and times for the remaining electoral activities.

The Commission called on all eligible citizens to take “decisive action” this weekend to secure their right to vote.