Low party loyalty as voters weigh election choices: Ipsos

<span>Low party loyalty as voters weigh election choices: Ipsos</span> <span><span>bombeleni_temp</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-09-09T12:00:00+02:00" title="Wednesday, September 9, 2026 - 12:00">Wed, 09/09/2026 - 12:00</time> </span>

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<div class="text-long"><p>Campaign posters for political parties competing in the national election. Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images</p></div> </div> </div> </div> <span class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_36 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://www.enca.com/news-top-stories-videos/low-party-loyalty-voters-weigh-election-choices-ipsos" data-a2a-title="Low party loyalty as voters weigh election choices: Ipsos"><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.enca.com%2Fnews-top-stories-videos%2Flow-party-loyalty-voters-weigh-election-choices-ipsos&title=Low%20party%20loyalty%20as%20voters%20weigh%20election%20choices%3A%20Ipsos"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook"></a><a class="a2a_button_twitter"></a><a class="a2a_button_email"></a></span>

<div class="text-long"><p>JOHANNESBURG - With eight weeks to go before the elections, voters still need to be persuaded about who to vote for.</p><p>The latest Ipsos survey shows there is very little party loyalty among voters, with many prioritising service delivery regardless of which party is in power.</p><blockquote><p><strong>READ: </strong><a href="https://www.enca.com/business-videos/transport-costs-becoming-barrier-opportunity-millions-ipsos"><span><strong>Transport costs becoming barrier to opportunity for millions: Ipsos</strong></span></a></p></blockquote><p>“People are frustrated, on the one hand, and want service delivery on the other hand,” says Ipsos’s Mari Harris.</p><p>“They want parties to stop making promises and show what they are about, which is basically the bottom line,” she says.</p></div>

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<div class="text-long"><p>Ipsos says voters are showing that they are unlikely to support parties without a track record, instead wanting parties to demonstrate what they have achieved.</p><p>Meanwhile, registered voters are keeping their cards close to their chests when it comes to who they intend to support.</p><blockquote><p><strong>READ: </strong><a href="https://www.enca.com/opinion/ipsos-poll-majority-has-negative-outlook-sas-future"><span><strong>Ipsos poll | Majority has a negative outlook on SA's future</strong></span></a></p></blockquote><p>“I think voters are frustrated on one hand,” says Harris.</p><p>“On the other hand, they are very confused with the number of political parties around,” she says.</p><p>Harris says voter sentiment differs from area to area, with some considering staying away from the polls.</p><blockquote><p><strong>READ: </strong><a href="https://www.enca.com/news/35-voters-not-yet-sure-who-vote-ipsos"><span><strong>35% of voters not yet sure who to vote for - IPSOS</strong></span></a></p></blockquote><p>The Free State has the highest number of people considering not voting, while the Western Cape has a lower number of people looking to stay away.</p><p>According to Ipsos, uncertainty about voting intentions is highest in the metros.</p></div>

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