The revised schedule moves polling from December 22, 2026, to February 11, 2027, extending the electoral process by 51 days.
The change comes amid concerns from regional and international partners over South Sudan’s readiness to hold credible elections in December, including funding shortages, limited technical capacity, political divisions, insecurity and delays in implementing the 2018 peace agreement. Concerns have also been raised about opposition participation, restrictions on civic space and the inclusion of displaced people in the electoral process.
Under the revised timetable, voter registration will run from November 14 to 28 across the country, followed by publication of the provisional voter register on November 29.
Voters will have seven days, from November 30 to December 6, to raise objections to the provisional register. Returning officers will consider the objections and make corrections from December 7 to 13. Further appeals and court proceedings are scheduled through January 1, 2027. The amended register will be submitted between January 2 and 8, while the final voter register is scheduled for publication on January 9.
The nomination process will begin on November 29 with the publication of nomination signature forms. Candidates will submit their nominations from December 14 to 20, followed by publication of the list of nominated candidates on December 21.
Objections to nominations, corrections and appeals will run through January 17, with the final list of candidates scheduled for publication between January 18 and 21.
The 45-day election campaign will run from December 27 to February 9. February 10 will be observed as a silent day ahead of polling on February 11.
The timetable provides two days, February 11 and 12, for sorting, counting and announcing results at polling centres. Results processing at state and administrative-area level is scheduled for February 13 and 14, followed by processing at NEC headquarters from February 14 to 15.
The commission is scheduled to declare the final results on February 15 and publish them on February 16. The electoral calendar also provides 148 days, from February 17 to July 15, for resolving election disputes.
The updated timetable does not specify the reasons for moving the polling date.
