IEC to investigate what led to historic low voter turnout in 2024 polls
A little over 58% of registered voters cast their ballots, the lowest voter turnout in South Africa's democratic history.
Joubert Park voters queue to cast their ballot on 29 May 2024. Picture: Kayleen Morgan/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) said it would investigate what led to the historic low voter turnout in 2024’s elections.
A little over 58% of registered voters cast their ballots, the lowest voter turnout in South Africa's democratic history.
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For these general elections, the IEC introduced a new rule that stated that voters could only cast their ballot at the voting station they were registered at.
The IEC acknowledged this led to many people being turned away at voting stations.
However, deputy chief electoral officer, Masego Sheburi, said this couldn’t be the only reason for the low turnout.
“It could have been a contributing factor, but as I said, we have to look at the evidence and understand what drove voter behaviour to be the manner it did."
Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi said his department did everything possible to ensure that voters had their identity documents before the elections.