The Electoral Commission (IEC) has intensified its efforts to boost youth voter registration by launching its Tertiary Institution Campaign at Taletso College in Lehurutshe, North West, calling on eligible students to sign up ahead of the local government elections later this year.
With concerns rising over disengagement among the youth, the IEC revealed that it has so far engaged over 70,000 young people across 197 tertiary institutions, managing to register more than 60,000 of them. However, officials stress that the numbers need to climb significantly to address the current democratic deficit.
According to the Commission, statistics indicate that only between 20% and 25% of young people aged 18 to 24 are registered to vote. “The vast majority of the young people that are eligible to vote are not participating,” the IEC stated during the launch. “If 75% of you are not participating, it means there’s 75% zero.”
The Commission appealed directly to students to take ownership of their future, urging them to use the simplified electronic registration process to make their voices heard.
Students’ Representative Councils (SRCs) from both the college and North West University pledged their support for the initiative. Student leaders committed to ensuring that their peers register, proposing seminars and campus campaigns to disseminate information provided by the IEC.
“We will encourage them to vote because whatever changes they want, their voice will be heard if they stand up and start to vote,” said a student representative. “Once they do vote, whatever they want to be achieved can be achieved through their vote.”
First-time registrants at the event echoed the sentiment, describing the process as accessible. One new voter shared, “It is the first time I register to vote. The process was so simple because there are no queues and we can also register online. Things are simple. The importance of registering as a young person is to open job creativity and also opportunities for youth programs.”
The IEC has encouraged students and those in rural areas with internet access to continue registering online. For those without connectivity, the Commission reminded them that they can visit their local voting stations during the upcoming voter registration weekend.
