Local Elections – How Your Vote Counts
The date for the local elections has now been announced:
Wednesday, 4 November 2026.
Over the past few weeks, we have reflected on the importance of participating in civic life and ensuring that our registration details are in order. This week we look briefly at how votes are counted in local elections.
In municipal elections, there are two parts to the ballot:
• One vote is for a ward councillor, representing your local area
• The other vote is for a political party
It is this second vote that is especially important to understand.
Seats in the municipal council are allocated using a system of proportional representation. This means that the number of seats a party receives reflects the total number of votes it receives across the municipality.
For this reason, even if the result in a particular ward seems predictable, every vote still contributes to the overall balance and direction of the council.
As Catholics, we are encouraged to take part in public life as a way of contributing to the common good. As the Catechism teaches, “as far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life” (CCC 1915). In our own context, the Pastoral Plan of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference highlights the importance of responsible civic engagement.
This week:
Ensure that your registration details are correct and make preparations to vote on Wednesday, 4 November.
Further practical guidance will follow in the coming weeks.