The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has announced an investigation into the causes behind the historically low voter turnout in the 2024 elections.
With just over 58% of registered voters casting their ballots, this marks the lowest voter turnout in South Africa’s democratic history.
For the 2024 general elections, the IEC introduced a new rule requiring voters to cast their ballots only at the voting station where they were registered.
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This change led to many people being turned away at voting stations, contributing to the lower turnout. However, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Masego Sheburi, emphasized that this couldn’t be the sole reason for the decline in voter participation.
“It could have been a contributing factor, but as I said, we have to look at the evidence and understand what drove voter behaviour to be the manner it did,” Sheburi stated.
Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi asserted that his department took all necessary measures to ensure that voters had their identity documents in time for the elections. Despite these efforts, the low turnout remained a significant concern.
The IEC’s investigation aims to delve deeper into the factors that influenced voter behaviour during the 2024 elections. Identifying these elements is crucial for addressing the underlying issues and ensuring higher voter participation in future elections.
The findings from this investigation will be instrumental in shaping the strategies and policies of the IEC to enhance electoral engagement among South Africans.
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