Your Local Vote Helper: Decide Your 2026 Municipal Vote
A free, private wizard that helps South Africans work out how to judge their municipal ballot for the 4 November 2026 local elections. No party is recommended.
Not sure how to weigh up your choices for the local government elections on 4 November 2026? This free tool does not tell you who to vote for. It walks you through what your ballots actually decide, who is really responsible for the things you care about, and the sharp questions to put to any candidate, so you can vote with your eyes open. Everything stays in your browser, and nothing you choose is saved or sent anywhere.
- 1. Your area
- 2. Who does what
- 3. Your priorities
- 4. Your questions
- 5. Get ready
Make your local vote count
A quick, private walk-through to help you decide how to judge your municipal ballot on 4 November 2026. It does not tell you who to vote for. It helps you vote with your eyes open.
100% private. Nothing you choose here is saved or sent anywhere.
Who is actually responsible?
People often blame the wrong level of government, then vote on issues their council cannot fix. Tap any everyday problem to see who really controls it, so you judge your council on the right things.
What matters most to you?
Pick the things your local council can actually influence that you care about most. We will turn them into sharp questions for any candidate or party knocking on your door.
Your questions to ask
Take these to a candidate meeting, a door-knock or a ward councillor. A serious candidate will give you specifics, not slogans. Print this page or screenshot it.
Get ready to vote
A council is only as good as the people who turn out to choose it. Here is your checklist for 4 November 2026.
- Check you are registered at your current address on the Electoral Commission site at elections.org.za. You must vote at the station where you are registered.
- Find your voting station and confirm your ward using the same IEC site or the IEC voter app.
- Watch for registration weekends announced by the IEC in the run-up to the poll, and register or update your address then.
- On the day, bring your ID, a green barcoded ID book, a smart ID card or a valid temporary ID certificate.
- Know your ballots from step 1, so you are not surprised in the booth.
- Bring your questions from step 4 to any candidate event before the vote.
How this local election tool helps you decide
Local elections decide who runs your town or city, the people responsible for water, electricity, refuse removal, roads and your municipal bill. Yet many voters head to the polls unsure which problems their council can actually fix, and which belong to the province or national government. This tool clears that up in a few minutes, without ever telling you who to vote for.
It works in five short steps. First you pick your municipality and see exactly which ballots you will get on the day. In the eight metros that is two, a ward vote and a proportional party vote, while most other municipalities add a third vote for the district council. Next you learn who is really responsible for everyday problems, so you judge your council on the right things. Then you choose the issues that matter most to you, and the tool turns them into specific questions to ask any candidate, along with what a good answer sounds like. Finally it helps you check that you are registered and ready for 4 November 2026.
What does a municipality actually control?
Your council runs local services like water reticulation, refuse collection, municipal roads, street lights, rates and billing, parks and libraries. Policing sits with the national police service, schools and most clinics are run by the province, and social grants are national. Housing is shared between all three spheres. Knowing this helps you hold the right people to account.
Frequently asked questions
Does this tool tell me who to vote for?
No. It never recommends a party or candidate. It helps you understand your ballot and prepare your own questions, so the choice stays entirely yours.
Is my information saved?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you select is stored or sent anywhere.
When are the local elections?
South Africans vote on Wednesday 4 November 2026 to elect municipal councillors.
What is an Auditor-General audit outcome?
It is an independent yearly check on how well a municipality managed its money and records. A clean audit is the best result, while qualified, adverse or disclaimed outcomes signal more serious problems. The tool shows each metro's latest outcome and explains that it reflects that financial year, which may pre-date the current council.
New to the parties on your ballot? Read our guide to South Africa's political parties for the 2026 local elections.