South Africans showed strong confidence in the integrity of the 2026 Local Government Elections, with 90% of voters describing the elections as free and 91% calling them fair, according to the latest Election Satisfaction Survey (ESS) conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) on 4 November 2026.
The survey sampled 15,000 voters across 300 voting stations in all nine provinces, interviewing around 50 voters per station on election day. It aims to gauge voters’ perceptions and experiences directly at the polls, informing assessments of election conduct alongside official declarations by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
HSRC researcher Dr Ben Roberts highlighted the high levels of trust in ballot secrecy, with 95% of respondents satisfied that their votes remained secret. Confidence that votes would be accurately counted was also strong, with 83% expressing complete or high confidence in the tallying process.
Services at the voting stations improved in 2026 compared to previous local elections, with nine out of ten voters waiting less than 30 minutes to cast their ballots. This contributed to 95% of voters being satisfied with the service provided by IEC officials, according to EyeWitness News reporting on the HSRC data.
However, trust in the IEC has shown a gradual decline over recent cycles. The 2026 survey recorded an 81% trust level, down from 85% in 2024, 89% in 2021, and 93% in 2019. This trend signals ongoing challenges in maintaining public confidence despite generally positive voter experiences.
The ESS, a long-running measure used by the HSRC since 1999, provides a snapshot of voter sentiment on election day, including whether voters believe elections are free, fair, and well managed. The HSRC press release described the survey’s role as key in determining the official designation of elections as free and fair.
While these results reflect voters’ perceptions at polling stations, the survey does not function as an audit of election administration. It captures direct feedback rather than encompassing all aspects of election oversight. The HSRC and media reports caution that the survey’s findings are based on the sampled voters and not a national opinion poll.
The 2026 survey’s improvements in queuing times and overall service quality help explain why voter satisfaction remained high despite the slight dip in trust. These factors remain important for the IEC as it works to restore and sustain confidence ahead of future elections.
As South Africans reflect on the 2026 local polls, the ESS results provide early insight into the public’s view of the democratic process. The HSRC will continue analysing the data and provide further updates in upcoming briefings.