Elections 2024 | IEC prioritises youth Democracy Education: Tessa Dooms

Ahead of the 2024 general elections the Electoral Commission has prioritised democracy education for the youth of South Africa. This is aimed not just at school learners but also the youth at tertiary educational institutions and those outside of formal educational and workplace structures.

In South Africa, the youth played a historically important role in achieving electoral democracy. They were active citizens and made an immense contribution towards the liberation of this country. Many of them even lost their lives in the pursuit of freedom and the democracy that we all enjoy today. However, young people in the post-apartheid era form part of the phenomenon of electoral abstention, which is becoming prevalent in many countries the world over.

For example, voter turnout during the 2021 municipal elections was a mere 46%, which was the lowest in the history of democratic South Africa. During the 2021 municipal elections, nearly 1,8 million eligible 18-19-year-olds did not register to vote. This translates into 1,8 million lost potential votes in these elections, because one cannot vote if one is not registered to vote, and consequently not on the voter's roll.

Tessa Dooms, Director at Rivonia Circle joins us for a conversation.

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