Over 24.1 million South Africans have registered to vote, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) said on Thursday – but only a small percentage of “born-free” South Africa youth have opted to exercise the hard-won right, data shows.<\/p>\n
This is ahead of the final voter registration taking place this weekend (8 – 9 February).<\/p>\n
“This (24.1 million) is 76.7% of the estimated voting age population which, according to Statistics SA, is 31.4 million,” IEC spokeswoman Kate Bapela said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“This includes just over one million new voters who were added to the voters’ roll during the previous registration weekend held in November.”<\/p>\n
The IEC had set itself a target of securing 80% of the voting population on its voters’ roll.<\/p>\n
“To reach this threshold, 1.1 million will be targeted in the final registration weekend.”<\/p>\n
According to the IEC’s data, only 427,690 voters between the ages of 18 and 19 – the “born free” generation – have so far registered to vote in the 2014 elections.<\/p>\n
Reportedly, Statistics South Africa’s figures show that an estimated 1.5 million South Africans are 18 or 19 years old – leaving a massively untapped market of around 1.1 million young voters to draw in.<\/p>\n
However, voter registration has never been a fool-proof indication of how many citizens will cast their ballot on voting day.<\/p>\n
South Africa’s elections have struggled to draw out the full force of voters since their peak during the first democratic elections held in the country in 1994.<\/p>\n
In that year, close to 20 million South Africans came out to cast their vote, which resulted in Nelson Mandela becoming president of the nation.<\/p>\n
Subsequent elections, in 1999, 2004 and 2009, saw numbers slip, with vote figures failing to match up to registrations by as much as 23%.<\/p>\n
Year<\/strong><\/td>\n| Registered voters<\/strong><\/td>\n | Voters<\/strong><\/td>\n | Turnout (%)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 2014<\/td>\n | 24,087,507<\/td>\n | –<\/td>\n | –<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 2009<\/td>\n | 23,181,997<\/td>\n | 17,919,966<\/td>\n | 77.3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 2004<\/td>\n | 20,674,926<\/td>\n | 15,863,558<\/td>\n | 76.7%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 1999<\/td>\n | 18,172,751<\/td>\n | 16,228,462<\/td>\n | 89.3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | 1994<\/td>\n | –<\/td>\n | 19,726,610<\/td>\n | N\/A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n | Source: IEC<\/small><\/p>\n IEC’s Bapela said 22,263 voting stations throughout the country would be open on Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 5pm for the final voter registration weekend.<\/p>\n “This is the last weekend during which the voters can apply to register to vote for the 2014 national and provincial elections,” she said.<\/p>\n In January, two voter registration weekends were held out in South Africa’s 123 missions in 108 countries around the world.<\/p>\n Bapela said voter registration remained opened at the missions during working hours.<\/p>\n “For purposes of the 2014 national and provincial elections, South African citizens abroad have been encouraged to ensure that their applications are received by close of business on Friday, 7 February,” she said.<\/p>\n “To date we have received 3,703 applications for registration from about 70 missions. We are still receiving more each day and are processing these.”<\/p>\n Bapela said the highest number of applications came from London, Dubai, and Cuba.<\/p>\n Prisoners in the country had also been urged to register to vote.<\/p>\n “Registration in South Africa’s 235 correctional facilities began on 5 February [Wednesday],” said Bapela.<\/p>\n (With Sapa)<\/p>\n More on South Africa<\/h3>\nE-tolls not an election issue for ANC: Sanral<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n E-tolls won\u2019t affect ANC elections: analyst<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Where South Africa\u2019s corruption takes place<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n |