IEC to young SA voters: 'We all need to participate in the democracy'

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has lobbied students to spread the importance of voting to attract as many young people as possible to participate in the elections.

South Africans are expected to vote in the upcoming local government elections, which could be held at the end of the year or early next year.

However, the commission said there is still a huge gap to fill when it comes to young people who are not registered to vote.

With the IEC having set the voter registration weekend for June 2026, it is now moving around the clock to get as many young people as possible to register to vote.

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On Wednesday, it took its voter education campaign to the Durban University of Technology to shed some light.

“We hope to achieve this with the partnership of yourselves as the leaders taking this message sounding the clarion call at our homes, neighbourhoods, families and friends that we all need to participate in the democracy,” said the IEC’s vice chairperson, Glen Mashinini.

He added that young people who do not vote are far from shaping the future.

“If you are not registered, you are not going to vote, how will the young people then be recognised? How can they say they will influence the shape and the direction of the leadership that we have in our country?”

The commission has also urged eligible voters to use of its online registration process.