IEC remains positive about voting turnout for 2024 elections

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says it is hoping for a 70% increase of the voter turnout in the 2024 general elections, an increase from the previous 66% recorded five years ago.

Gauteng currently remains the province with the biggest voting population at 6.4 million voters, followed by KwaZulu-Natal at 5.7 million, then the Eastern Cape at 3.4 million voters, according to the IEC.

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IEC ENCOURAGED BY YOUNG PEOPLE TURNOUT

IEC general manager Moagisi Sibanda told SABC they were aiming for a voter turnout of 70% at the general elections, adding they were also encouraged by the turnout of young people.

“We are very encouraged by the turnout of young people at the IEC. We really made a concerted effort to ensure that we target young people and that is really meeting them where they are, online, face to face, multimedia, radio, digital and social media all enable us to see more young people coming out to register,” IEC’s Sibanda said.

MORE PEOPLE URGED TO REGISTER

“Voters in SA are not apathetic, they’ve lost trust in governing systems, politicians, and political parties and that disappointment is driving people to disengage. Disengagement creates this mutual neglect. You need to participate to see who aligns best with you and your own ambitions, your communities and go out and select those people,” Sibanda said.

IEC reported that applications at voting stations totalled 1 818 379, whereas the online applications gave a total yield of 240 789. 

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In terms of the overall provincial outcomes, KwaZulu-Natal recorded 510 670 transactions, Gauteng 452 596, and the Eastern Cape comes in third at 305 460 transactions, according to IEC. 

KwaZulu-Natal again leads with young people’s registration at 103 647, followed by Gauteng at 82 168, and the Eastern Cape at 43 673.