WESTERN CAPE — The Electoral Commission (IEC) has acknowledged significant Western Cape special voting delays on the first day of the special voting period, with hundreds of stations in the Cape Metro failing to open on schedule. Provincial Electoral Officer Michael Hendrickse confirmed that the disruptions were caused by logistical setbacks in ballot distribution, though the commission remains committed to facilitating the democratic process.
At 08:00 this morning, the logistical setbacks meant that 217 voting stations across the Cape Metro could not open on time. According to Hendrickse, the disruptions stem from an unforeseen delay by the contracted printing company responsible for producing the ballots, which impacted the timely delivery of special vote ballots to specific areas.
Despite the morning’s setbacks, the IEC has reaffirmed its commitment to the electoral process. The dates of November 2 and 3, 2026, have been officially designated for Special Voting. Hendrickse assured the public that the commission will fulfill its mandate over the two-day period to ensure that every registered voter who applied for a special vote can successfully cast their ballot.
On a national scale, the IEC reported that a total of 2,655,067 voters have been approved for special voting. This critical provision caters to registered voters who may be unable to physically reach their designated voting stations due to physical infirmity or disability, as well as those who will be unavailable at their registered stations on the main Election Day, which falls on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
“It is our intention to honour our mandate and make sure every voter exercises their democratic right to cast their vote,” Hendrickse stated, emphasizing the commission’s dedication to voter accessibility.
Addressing the current operational status, Hendrickse described the situation as fluid, noting that the affected voting stations are progressively opening as the delayed ballots are received on the ground. He assured citizens that strict security measures remain firmly in place for the transport and delivery of all special vote ballots.
Hendrickse issued a formal apology to voters for the inconvenience caused by the morning’s disruptions. However, he clarified that the delays are strictly isolated to the Cape Metro. Reports from the field confirm that voting stations in the outer regions of the Western Cape are completely unaffected and are operating smoothly.
