South Africa: New Protocols and Tech Kept Lines Moving, but Some Voters Still Faced Long Queues

What the report says

South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission said new voting protocols and technology helped speed up ballot processing during the 2026 local government elections, even as some voters still encountered long waits. According to the Daily Maverick report republished by AllAfrica, the IEC used handheld barcode scanners, tighter station rules and additional staff training to reduce congestion at polling stations on Wednesday, 4 November.

By late afternoon, the commission said more than 12 million citizens had cast ballots, while turnout had already reached 3.5 million by 10 a.m. The IEC also said fewer than 1% of voting stations opened late, with stormy weather contributing to most of those delays. The report said there were more than 29.2 million registered voters and 23,696 polling stations nationwide.

IEC chief executive Sy Mamabolo said the commission had invested in equipment and volunteer training to help manage queues. A key change this year was that voters were required to cast ballots at the station where they were registered, part of what the IEC described as a campaign against long lines.

The report said the system worked smoothly for many people, but some voters still reported long distances to polling places and waits of up to two and a half hours. The election is important because local government polls determine leadership in municipalities that handle basic public services across South Africa.