Think before you make your X
There are more than a million ‘born frees’ not registered to vote in this year's election.
THE youth vote was supposedly going to be the trump card of this election.
However, with more than a million ‘born frees’ not registering, this means they are unlikely to make any major dent at the polls.
Despite a targeted campaign by the IEC and political parties for the ‘born free’ vote, only a third of those born after 1994 have registered to cast their ballots on 7 May, making up 2.5% of the 25 million registered voters in South Africa.
It was thought these bright-eyed youngsters, who did not necessarily follow the voting pattern of their parents, would be a significant factor in this election.
But now parties will have to rethink their strategies and voters will have to do their homework before casting that all-important ballot.
Voters largely sit in three categories this year.
The first tier is the the ‘loyal’ vote, essentially based on the ‘good story’ of South Africa. It is a vote that pays homage to the past liberation struggle and the large strides made in terms of a free and democratic South Africa.
It focuses on the past and not so much on evaluating the present or considerating the future. It is simply a ‘patriotic’ vote.
The second tier is the ‘radicals’. This voter is looking for revolutionary reform, rapid changes using strong arm tactics and major policy changes. A large segment of the younger population is swayed in this direction. They are impatient with the status quo and feel more should have been done over the past 20 years to reflect equality and bridge the gap between rich and poor.
The third tier is the ‘performance’ vote.
This segment is based on the ‘now’. What is the country doing for me now in terms of service delivery?
These voters based their decisions on peformance merit and seek change for the future.
Whatever category one finds oneself in, one thing is certain – for the sake of the country, next month’s election is crucial and requires voters to make informed decisions. Study political parties’ manifestos, their policies and ask questions.
Will the party eradicate the scourges of corruption, crime, abuse of State funds and so on? Will the party’s policies place our country in an upward trajectory or will it lead to regression and economic collapse?
Think before you make your X!
