Is 4 November a public holiday? Election day 2026 explained
Yes, 4 November 2026 is a public holiday for the local elections. Voting hours, ID rules and what you must be paid if you work.
Key points
- Wednesday, 4 November 2026 is an official national public holiday, declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa for the Local Government Elections.
- Voting stations are open from 7am to 9pm. Special votes take place on 2 and 3 November from 8am to 5pm.
- If you work that day and it is a normal workday, the law says you must be paid at least double your ordinary daily wage.
- Your employer can only require you to work on a public holiday if you agreed to it.
Yes, 4 November is a public holiday. If you are wondering “is 4 November a public holiday” this year, the answer is yes: President Cyril Ramaphosa declared Wednesday, 4 November 2026 a national public holiday so that South Africans can vote in the Local Government Elections. The declaration was made in terms of Section 2A of the Public Holidays Act of 1994, which lets the President add an extra holiday by notice in the Government Gazette.
The Presidency also called on employers to make provision for staff to exercise their constitutional right to vote. Here is what the extra holiday means for your day, your job and your pay.
Why is 4 November 2026 a public holiday?
Election day is a public holiday so that as many registered voters as possible can get to their voting station. Many voting stations are schools, and the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) confirmed the holiday after concerns that the election could disrupt the matric exam period. Making the day a holiday is meant to keep that disruption to a minimum.
The election date itself was proclaimed by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa, after the President first announced it earlier in the year.
What time do voting stations open on 4 November?
According to the IEC, voting stations open at 7am and close at 9pm on election day. Voters who applied and were approved for special votes could vote on Monday, 2 November and Tuesday, 3 November, between 8am and 5pm.
| Date | What happens | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, 2 November 2026 | Special votes (home visits and voting stations) | 8am – 5pm |
| Tuesday, 3 November 2026 | Special votes (home visits and voting stations) | 8am – 5pm |
| Wednesday, 4 November 2026 | Election day and public holiday | 7am – 9pm |
The IEC approved a record 2,655,067 special vote applications for this election, compared with 1,147,759 in 2021. Of those, 678,525 are home visits.
What do I need to bring to vote?
Bring one of the following: a smart ID card, a green barcoded ID book or a valid temporary identity certificate. The IEC says a driver’s licence, passport, student card or a photocopy of your ID will not be accepted.
In municipal elections you must vote at the station where you are registered. Travelling voters cannot move their vote to another ward. You can check where you are registered on the IEC website (elections.org.za), by SMSing your 13-digit ID number to 32810, or by sending “Hi” on WhatsApp to 060 088 0000. Our step-by-step guide on how to vote on 4 November 2026 explains the ballot papers and what to do inside the voting station.
Do I have to work on 4 November?
Not unless you agreed to. Section 18 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) says an employer may not require an employee to work on a public holiday except in accordance with an agreement. Many people in retail, security, healthcare, transport and hospitality have such agreements in their contracts, so check yours.
The Public Holidays Act also allows an employer and employee to agree to exchange a public holiday for another day. If you do this, it is best to put it in writing.
How much should I be paid if I work on election day?
The BCEA sets minimum rules for public holiday pay:
| Your situation on 4 November | Minimum pay under the BCEA |
|---|---|
| It is a normal workday and you do not work | Your ordinary daily wage |
| It is a normal workday and you do work | At least double your ordinary daily wage, or your ordinary daily wage plus pay for the hours worked, whichever is higher |
| It is not a normal workday but you work | Your ordinary daily wage plus pay for the time worked |
Public holiday pay must be paid on your normal pay day. Note that section 18 does not cover people who work fewer than 24 hours a month for the same employer, and some rules differ for higher earners. If you think you have been underpaid, you can contact the Department of Employment and Labour.
Can I still vote if I have to work?
Yes. Voting stations stay open for 14 hours, from 7am to 9pm, so most shift workers can vote before or after work. Talk to your employer in advance about time off to vote, as the President has asked employers to make provision for this.
What else should I know about the week?
The holiday falls in a busy money week. Fuel prices normally adjust on the first Wednesday of the month, which this time is election day. Check our November 2026 petrol price article for the latest numbers. SASSA also moved some November grant payment dates because of the election. See SASSA payment dates for November 2026.
Jonathan Lokota
Jonathan Lokota is the founder and editor of Classicnews7 and of Ready4BusinessOnline, a Johannesburg digital marketing and web design agency. He covers South African and world news, with a focus on money, politics and the stories that affect your pocket.