With the local elections approaching, young people are being called upon to actively participate and make their voices heard. Voting in local elections is a powerful way for youth to influence decisions that directly affect their communities, from education and public safety to transportation and housing.
This call encouraging the youth to use their voices in the upcoming local elections comes after IEC noted that there are over 70% of eligible South Africans between the ages of 18 and 19 have still not registered to vote.
Despite often lower voter turnout among younger demographics, The South African Local Government Association (SALGA), together with the IEC, is urging the youth to make their voices heard and vote
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Local polls are a crucial opportunity for citizens to choose leaders who will directly impact their daily lives through decisions on service delivery, infrastructure, and community development.
The IEC encourages young voters to educate themselves about the candidates and issues, ensuring their choices reflect their values and aspirations. By casting their ballots, youth can help drive positive change and hold elected officials accountable.
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Moreover, the IEC aims to dispel any misconceptions that local elections are less significant than national ones. Every vote counts, and youth engagement is essential for vibrant, representative governance. The commission is also working to make voting accessible and straightforward, offering information and support to first-time voters and those unfamiliar with the electoral process.
EWN spoke to SALGA spokesperson Motalatale Modiba, who shared, “Several factors may be contributing to the low registration numbers among young people.” He also stated that it is important to understand these concerns and encourage greater youth participation in the democratic process.
He added, “It’s important that those issues that are a source of concern, perhaps poor service delivery and other issues, are matched by civic participation. And, therefore, we would urge young people that they must use their voice during these coming local government elections, that the right to vote was hard-won through sacrifice.”
Modiba urged citizens not to take the opportunity to vote for granted.
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