Youth drive 27% of voter registrations ahead of 2026 elections

IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo says young people dominated new registrations, accounting for 80% of first-time voters during the latest voter registration weekend.

Image: IOL

Following the first voter registration weekend ahead of the local government elections on November 4, South Africa's young people have emerged as a formidable force in boosting voter registration numbers across the nation.

According to the latest report from the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), the total number of registered voters has now exceeded 28.8 million, marking a significant uptick from previous years' figures, particularly noted during the 2021 registration weekend, which drew in just 1.7 million voters.

On Monday, IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo provided an informative media briefing on the numbers recorded over the recent registration weekend.

The statistics reveal a landmark 2.9 million registrations, with approximately 785,078 young individuals aged 16 to 29 stepping up to register to vote this year. This demographic makes up a considerable 27% of the total registrations and is predominantly female, with 59% of the registrations coming from young women and 41% from young men.

The enthusiastic turnout at the nation's voting stations indicates a strong desire among youth to engage in the democratic process. Overall, voter stations captured approximately 2.3 million registrations, while an additional 362,296 registrations were completed online, showcasing a growing trend towards digital engagement in the electoral process.

"There were 456,067 first-time registrations, accounting for 16% of the total voter registration activity over the past registration weekend. Voters, who inspected and updated their details, accounted for 2.4 million, representing 84% of the total activity. This suggests that youth-focused campaigns are finding resonance with young people," Mamabolo stated.

IEC Chief Elections Officer, Sy Mamabolo has revealed that South Africa's youth are taking charge of their democratic destiny, with significant strides in voter registration numbers.

Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers

Of particular interest is the segment of first-time voters, which accounted for around 477,174 of the total registrations—indicative of a burgeoning interest in political participation among the younger generation. Additionally, 2.4 million voters updated their registration details, with female voters making up 1.6 million and male voters at 1.2 million.

Mamabalo further announced a second voter registration weekend for 1 and 2 August, giving eligible South Africans another opportunity to register or update their details ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

The IEC also revealed that the commission's online voter registration portal has been zero-rated, allowing eligible South Africans to access voter registration services without incurring data costs.

"The Commission announces a second voter registration weekend, which will take place on the 1st and 2nd of August. This additional weekend will provide additional opportunities for citizens to register and to update their details," Mamabolo said.