JUBA, 6 September 2026 — South Sudan’s general elections are scheduled for 22 December 2026, according to the National Elections Commission, which has also confirmed that preparations for voter registration are under way but that registration itself has not yet opened.
The date is stated in the Commission’s official guidance and was reaffirmed in a 2 September public statement. The Commission said it remains committed to organising a peaceful, free, fair, credible and inclusive general election on that date.
What has been confirmed
The National Elections Commission is the institution legally responsible for conducting elections and referenda in South Sudan, including announcing the polling date. Its official frequently asked questions page says the next elections should be held on 22 December 2026.
Under the current legal framework, the elections envisaged include the presidency, National Assembly, governors, state assemblies, chief administrators, administrative-area legislative councils and local governments.
Voter registration has not started
The Commission has cautioned the public against reports claiming that voter registration is already taking place or that regional registration figures have been released. It said no voter has yet been registered and no electoral register or authentic registration statistics currently exist.
According to the Commission, every South Sudanese citizen who will be 18 or older on polling day will be entitled to register once the exercise begins. The dates, registration centres and identification documents required will be announced through official channels.
Preparations now under way
On 2 and 3 September, the Commission trained election officials drawn from the ten states and three administrative areas on voter-registration procedures. The programme covered the legal framework, registration forms, civic and voter education, and the management of equipment and data.
The Commission says registration will be conducted manually, in person and on paper across the country before the information is entered into its computer systems. State election committees have also been assessing registration centres, while civic and voter education campaigns have begun in several states.
An earlier Commission declaration retained 102 national geographical constituencies across the ten states and three administrative areas for the December 2026 elections, using the constituencies of the 2010 general election.
Challenges remain
The confirmed date does not mean every preparation has been completed. The South Sudan Political Parties Council reported in July that funding shortages and insecurity were putting pressure on important electoral milestones. Those concerns make continued public reporting on the timetable, voter registration, security and electoral rules essential.
The Dawn will continue to update its election timeline as the National Elections Commission publishes the electoral calendar, registration notices and other verified information.
Official sources
- National Elections Commission: Frequently Asked Questions
- National Elections Commission: Statement on false reports about voter registration, 2 September 2026
- National Elections Commission: Training state election committees on voter registration, 2 September 2026
- National Elections Commission: Declaration of 102 national geographical constituencies
- South Sudan Political Parties Council: Election preparations and implementation risks, 3 July 2026
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