More than 70% [1] of eligible 18- and 19-year-olds in South Africa have not yet registered to vote, the Electoral Commission said.
This registration gap represents a significant portion of the new electorate. Because these young citizens have only recently become eligible, they have had few opportunities to enter the system [2].
To address the shortfall, the Electoral Commission of South Africa, known as the IEC, has launched a nationwide registration drive this weekend. The commission opened 23,700 [3] voting stations to facilitate the final push for registration. These stations are operating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. [4] throughout the weekend.
To manage the process and ensure data accuracy, the IEC deployed more than 39,000 [5] Voter Management Devices across the country. These devices allow officials to register voters and verify identities in real time.
The push for youth participation is visible in various communities, including Eldorado Park and Khayelitsha. Officials said young people should take advantage of the weekend hours to ensure their voices are included in upcoming elections.
Low registration rates among the youth often stem from a lack of awareness or accessibility to registration points. By deploying thousands of devices and keeping stations open through the weekend, the IEC aims to lower these barriers and increase the percentage of the youth population on the rolls.
“More than 70% of eligible 18- and 19-year-olds in South Africa have not yet registered to vote.”
The high percentage of unregistered youth indicates a potential disconnect between the electoral system and the youngest eligible voters. If the IEC cannot successfully bridge this gap, the resulting low turnout could lead to an electorate that does not accurately reflect the country's current demographic reality, potentially skewing policy priorities away from youth-centric issues.
