IRR launches #PledgeToVote campaign to get South Africans back to the polls

7 February 2023

South Africa’s most recent election, the 2021 Local Government Election, signalled a warning about the condition of our democracy in the continuing decline of voter turnout: just 12 million people – only 46% of registered voters – cast their ballot.

In a bid to counter this trend and strengthen South Africa’s democracy, the IRR today launches the #PledgeToVote campaign to get citizens to the polls in the upcoming 2024 Election.

While the ANC has dominated every election since 1994, polling indicates that it will likely get less than 50% percent of the vote in 2024. This will tilt the country towards more competitive politics, making the next ballot the most exciting the country has seen in 30 years.

The #PledgeToVote campaign aims at getting South Africans to take the first vital step in getting involved in their democracy, by simply voting –the most valuable and nonviolent means of public participation and representation in politics.

Says Alex Weiss, #PledgeToVote Campaign Manager: “We’ve created a platform to get South Africans excited about voting and encourage one another to participate in deciding the future of South Africa. We want people to commit to the simple act of voting and keep them engaged all the way to the ballot box.”

In the face of livelihood-threatening load-shedding, growing dissatisfaction over poor service delivery, and sparse job opportunities, the need for citizens to get involved in and excited about the country’s prospects has never been greater.

Visit pledgetovote.co.za to make your #PledgeToVote.

Issued by Alex Weiss, #PledgeToVote Campaign Manager, 7 February 2023