John Maytham speaks to independent elections analyst Michael Atkins following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that South Africa will head to the polls on November 4, 2026, for the local government elections. The discussion focuses on the readiness of the Independent Electoral Commission, which has seen a notable uptick in voter registrations, including more than 260,000 new sign-ups in recent months, driven in part by its online registration campaign. While this suggests some renewed engagement, questions remain around persistent voter apathy, logistical readiness, and outstanding ward demarcations. Atkins also weighs in on the growing shift toward online registrations, what it signals about voter behaviour, and how the Electoral Laws Amendment Bill could shape the electoral landscape, with e-voting firmly ruled out for this election cycle.
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