Local election results are due by 11 November. How to follow them live
The IEC must declare final results for the 4 November local elections by 11 November. Emerging results go live on election night. Here are the key dates and when new mayors are elected.
The Electoral Commission (IEC) has to announce the final results and council seats for the 4 November local government elections within seven days of voting, which puts the deadline at Wednesday, 11 November 2026 (IEC counting factsheet). You won't have to wait that long to see who's ahead: emerging results start appearing on the IEC's online dashboard on election night, refreshed every five to 10 minutes once voting stations close (IEC results dashboard).
The IEC launched its national Results Operation Centre at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand on 28 October (IEC).
What are the key dates?
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 2 and 3 November | Special votes for people who can't get to a voting station |
| 4 November, 07:00 to 21:00 | Election Day voting |
| From 4 November, after 21:00 | Counting starts and emerging results go live |
| By 11 November | Final results and seat allocation for metro and local councils |
| Within 14 days of results being gazetted | New councils hold their first meeting and elect a speaker and mayor |
Sources: IEC readiness update, IEC timetable, IEC counting factsheet, Municipal Structures Act.
Where can I follow the results?
On results.elections.org.za. The dashboard shows votes per party, turnout and spoilt votes, broken down to municipality, ward and voting district level, and lets you download the detailed data (IEC results dashboard).
Each voting station also sticks a copy of its signed results slip on its door after counting, so you can see your own station's numbers (IEC counting factsheet).
Are the numbers on election night official?
No. The figures on the dashboard while counting carries on are emerging results. A result only becomes official once the IEC has finished its checks and formally declares it (IEC counting factsheet).
At each station, ballots are counted and reconciled against the number of ballot papers issued. Party and independent candidate agents sign the results slip, a copy goes to the local IEC office to be scanned and captured, and independent auditors verify the results. Parties can lodge objections at the results centres if they believe something went wrong (IEC counting factsheet).
How long did it take last time?
Three days. Voting in the 2021 local elections was on Monday, 1 November, and then IEC chairperson Glen Mashinini announced the final results on Thursday, 4 November, after the commission had cleared 290 objections (IEC chair's speech, SAnews).
In 2021, 66 of the 213 contested councils ended up hung, meaning no party won an outright majority (IEC chair's speech). In hung councils, parties have to agree on coalitions before a mayor can be elected.
When do new mayors take office?
Not on results day. The results are first published in the Government Gazette, and the municipal manager must then call the first council meeting within 14 days. Councillors are sworn in at that meeting and elect a speaker, who then runs the vote for mayor (Municipal Structures Act, Cogta).
District councils meet later, once all the local councils in the district have appointed their representatives (Municipal Structures Act).
FAQ
When will the 2026 local election results be announced?
The IEC must announce final results and seat allocations for metro and local councils within seven days of the 4 November vote, so by 11 November 2026. Emerging results start appearing on election night.
Where can I see live local election results?
On the IEC's results dashboard at results.elections.org.za, which updates every five to 10 minutes after voting stations close.
Are election night results final?
No. They are emerging results until the IEC completes its checks and formally declares the outcome.
When are new mayors elected after the local elections?
At the first council meeting, which must be called within 14 days after the results are published in the Government Gazette.
Sources
- IEC: Update on readiness for the 2026 Local Government Elections (gov.za)
- IEC: Arrangements for the Results Operations Centres
- IEC factsheet: Counting
- IEC results dashboard
- IEC 2026 local government election timetable
- IEC chairperson Glen Mashinini: Final results of the 2021 municipal elections
- SAnews: 2021 Local Government Elections declared free and fair
- Local Government: Municipal Structures Act (SAFLII)
- Cogta: Municipal managers have 14 days to call first council meetings