IEC credits new tech innovations for rapid voting pace

The IEC has attributed the speed with which it is processing voters to the innovations it has introduced for the 2026 local government elections.

These include the use of handheld barcode scanners, which are attached to the voter management devices, as well as the use of sequence numbers on the voters’ rolls for ease of voter identification.

Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Shiburi: “As at 10h00, our preliminary indications were that 3.5 million voters had already cast their ballots across the country. The Commission is particularly encouraged by those voters who made their way first thing in the morning to avoid the last-minute rushes in the afternoon. We urge all remaining registered voters to use the remaining hours of voting to cast their ballot and thereby exercise their democratic right and influence affairs in their localities.”

IEC media briefing: 04 November 2026: