You have just turned 18… now what? Well, it comes with a lot of fun, officially being of drinking and clubbing age, as well as finally being able to attend university. But being 18 also comes with a lot of responsibility, such as voting in your first ever election. Everyone tells first-time voters to go vote, but no one ever explains how. Many first-time voters are unsure about how registration works, and some even believe that their vote does not matter. So how exactly does one get it right? This will be a guide to know exactly how to register, vote, and make an informed decision.
National and provincial elections are held once every five years, and this is an opportunity where all South African citizens aged 18 and over are eligible to vote. This year is the local government elections where one is able to vote for leaders who run their local areas such as a town, city, or municipality. These elections choose the people responsible for everyday services such as roads, potholes, water, sanitation, electricity, refuse removal, and local housing.
During the vote, one would receive different ballot papers where more than one vote is cast. A voter is usually expected to cast two, or sometimes even three, votes. One of the votes will be for your ward councillor. A ward is a small area of a particular municipality. In this instance, instead of voting for a particular party, one would vote for an individual candidate to represent their specific area. The person who receives the majority of the votes wins. Then, a vote would be cast for a political party to represent the municipality in the municipal council. This happens through proportional representation where the percentage of votes received is the proportion of council seats a political party is allocated. Sometimes, an area may have a district municipality, and you would vote for a specific party here too.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) recently made an announcement stating that the local government elections are set for November 2026 to January 2027. These elections give voters an important opportunity to assess the performance of their current councillors as well as the political parties in power, and to help voters decide what they want going forward. This ensures that residents hold leaders accountable and shape the future of their communities.
One can register to vote online on the IEC voter registration portal or register in person at their local IEC office. Voters can only register once unless they move to a different area or their voting district changes. To register, one must be a South African citizen with a valid South African ID. The IEC also has an official voters app where people can check whether they are registered or not. It also allows voters to change their address or find their voting station. But an important factor to note is that once the election date is officially proclaimed, the voter’s roll closes, which means that it is incredibly important to register to vote now.
Voting is one of the most vital pillars of our democracy, and by empowering members of the community to take a stand, society is able to grow. Each and every vote carries weight – not only to achieve a better tomorrow, but to bring about a better everyday after that. So yes, people can vote because they are 18, but they can also vote because they want to drive change, justice, and unity within the country we call home.
Visual: Khayisa Motsepe
