IEC warns of declining voter turnout

THE Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has raised the alarm about a concerning trend in voter apathy, as its latest market research reveals that only 49% of eligible voters plan 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.

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

Delving into the reasons behind this dismal turnout, Sheburi cited several barriers that discourage voters from the polls, including personal intimidation, disillusionment with democracy, and various administrative hurdles.