Young voters are ready to have their say 

South Africans have shown strong interest in registering to vote ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, the big question now is whether they will turn up at voting stations on election day.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) recorded 485,757 registrations involving young people aged between 16 and 29 during the final voter registration weekend on 1 and 2 August.

Young people accounted for 26% of the 1.7 million registrations recorded across the country during the weekend.

IEC said 46% of all new registrations came from voters under 29, showing that young people made up a significant portion of those joining or updating their details on the voters’ roll. Gauteng recorded 78,405 young people who participated in the registration process.

The increase comes ahead of the Local Government Elections on 4 November, when voters will choose representatives responsible for governing their municipalities and delivering services in communities. Registering to vote is only the first step.

Figures from the 2021 Local Government Elections show that many young registered voters did not make it to voting stations.

According to the IEC’s 2021 Municipal Elections Report, only 35% of registered voters aged between 20 and 29 voted in those elections. Turnout among registered 18- and 19-year-olds was higher, at 71%.

Overall turnout in the 2021 Local Government Elections was 46% of registered voters, the lowest recorded in the series of local government elections since 2000.

IEC has continued to encourage young people to participate in elections through initiatives targeting schools, tertiary institutions and young voters. The Commission has also highlighted the importance of reaching young people with information about the electoral process, particularly first-time voters.

Young people are participating in the latest registration drive, but the challenge has now shifted from getting young people onto the voters’ roll to getting them to the voting station. The upcoming election is an opportunity to have a say in current issues, including jobs, education, housing, safety, public transport and basic municipal services.

As 4 November approaches, the question remains: will young people who registered make their voices count at the ballot box?