KIMBERLEY, NORTHERN CAPE — The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) in the Northern Cape has expressed severe concern regarding the critically low youth registration on the provincial voters roll. Ahead of the crucial voter registration weekend, election officials are urgently calling on young people, particularly first-time voters, to register for the upcoming November local government elections.
Currently, less than 20% of the youth demographic, specifically those between the ages of 18 and 29, are registered to vote in the province. To combat this, IEC spokespersons stated that the commission hopes to add 10% more people to the voters roll over the registration weekend, which would push the provincial tally to over 700,000 registered voters. The commission emphasized that the majority of these new additions need to be young people.
Addressing the youth directly, IEC spokespersons highlighted the importance of active participation rather than passive observation. They noted that while many young people stand on the sidelines with numerous comments about governance, they must become part and parcel of the decisions being made on their behalf. By either casting their votes or standing as candidates, the youth can make a tangible difference in determining who governs local government structures across the country.
To facilitate this, the commission has reported substantial growth in online registrations. Additionally, targeted campaigns have been actively rolled out at schools and universities to encourage youth participation in the voting process. IEC spokespersons assured the public that the commission is fully prepared for any eventuality over the weekend to ensure a smooth registration process.
On a broader provincial scale, the Northern Cape’s voters roll has seen steady growth, increasing from 617,000 to just over 671,000 since the last local government elections. Furthermore, the number of voting stations in the province has been increased to 739 as a result of recent demarcation processes.
