South Sudan
East Africa · ss
Transitional presidential republic preparing a mixed national election with geographic constituencies and proportional representation.
Profile last reviewed July 23, 2026
South Sudan has not held a national election since independence in 2011. The National Elections Act provides for universal adult voting from age 18 and a mix of geographic and proportional seats, but the first election's detailed implementation is still being built amid repeated transitional extensions, displacement, insecurity and funding constraints.
How voting works today
- Voting age
- 18 and over
- Voter registration
- Voter-initiated
- Identification
- Any identity document
- Compulsory voting
- No
- Postal voting
- Not available
- Early voting
- Not available
- Online voting
- Not available
- Voting from abroad
- Restricted
The Elections Act requires citizenship, age 18, registration and prescribed residence or identification conditions. It provides a route for citizens abroad to vote in presidential elections and referendums, but implementation depends on regulations and operational capacity.
How the franchise changed
Every entry records a change in who could vote, or how — expansions, restrictions and procedural reforms alike.
- 2011Expansion
Independence created citizenship and national political rights in the Republic of South Sudan under the transitional constitution.
Laws of the Republic of South Sudan - 2012Reform
The National Elections Act established voter eligibility from age 18 and the legal framework for registration, candidacy, polling and results.
National Elections Act, 2012 - 2026Reform
The election authority adopted 102 geographic constituencies based on the 2010 arrangement for the planned December election.
NEC statement on constituencies and December 2026 elections
Safeguards on the count
- Ballot type
- Paper ballots
- Post-election audit
- Ad hoc
- Election administration
- Independent commission
- Domestic observers
- Yes
- International observers
- Yes
The law establishes a National Elections Commission and observation rights, but safeguards cannot be assessed only from the statute: registration, polling access, count procedures, results publication and dispute resolution must still be implemented nationwide.
Worth knowing
- If held, the planned December 2026 vote would be South Sudan's first national election since independence.NEC statement on constituencies and December 2026 elections
- South Sudan's election bodies have publicly warned that funding shortages and insecurity threaten readiness for the planned vote.Election bodies warn funding shortages and insecurity threaten December polls
Elections in the database
- 2026South Sudan 2026 General ElectionElection Watch
People
- Head of stateSalva Kiir MayarditPresident of South Sudan
Sources
- National Elections Act, 2012— Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
- South Sudan's electoral body sets 102 constituencies for 2026 vote— Radio Tamazuj