Alarming decline in SA voter participation

THE Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has sounded the alarm over a worrying trend in voter apathy, with its latest market research revealing that a mere 49% of eligible voters intend to participate in the upcoming 2026 local government elections.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

This sobering statistic has amplified concerns over the steadily declining trend of voter turnout, which plummeted from 48% in 2000 to just 46% in the 2021 local elections.

Deputy electoral officer Masego Sheburi, who presented the findings during a briefing with the Portfolio Committees on Home Affairs and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on Friday, described the entrenched nature of this trend.

“The sobering outcome of that is if elections were to be held, only 49% of the respondents would participate and that participation will also be contingent on a number of things having been done.

“It is not given it could be 49% but it could be far less than 40% unless certain things are done,” Sheburi said.