South Sudan NEC Unveils Voter Registration Book Ahead of December 2026 Elections

JUBA, South Sudan — September 22, 2026

South Sudan’s National Elections Commission (NEC) has unveiled the official voter registration book that will be used to register eligible citizens ahead of the country’s general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026.

Speaking at a news conference in Juba on Tuesday, NEC Chairperson Gabriel Bol Deng Majok said the commission had approved the registration materials and expects printing of the books to begin this week. The development is another step in preparations for the South Sudan 2026 elections.

The registration book will record information about eligible voters and includes individual voter registration cards. According to the NEC, the materials will carry unique serial numbers and identify South Sudan’s 10 states and three administrative areas, as well as counties, geographical areas and voter registration centres.

Once registered, voters will receive a registration card that they will need to keep and present for verification on election day. The NEC said it has already assessed registration centres around the country and plans to begin distributing registration books once enough copies have been printed.

However, voter registration has not yet started nationwide. The commission said the official starting date will be announced after sufficient registration materials have reached the designated centres. Earlier in September, the NEC also warned the public against social-media reports falsely claiming that registration was already underway.

The commission also disclosed that it has received $25 million from the South Sudan government for election preparations. Deng said the Ministry of Finance has indicated that additional funding will be released to support voter registration and other electoral activities.

South Sudan is preparing for what is planned to be its first general election since independence in 2011. The NEC has set December 22, 2026, as election day.

The unveiling comes one day after President Salva Kiir Mayardit signed amendments to the National Elections Act, removing legal requirements that had linked holding elections to completion of a permanent constitution and national census.