Empowered at the Polls: Gen Z's Belief in Bringing Meaningful Change through Voting

The Electoral Commission reports that 1.2 million new voters have been added to the voters’ roll since November 2023, with 77% of them being young people under the age of 29. There is a strong expectation for South African youth to lead the change and drive meaningful progress in the country.

Gen Z, the generation born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, is increasingly becoming a significant demographic in political discussions, with their attitudes towards voting and political participation garnering attention. One of the key questions regarding Gen Z is whether they feel empowered by their ability to vote and if they believe their vote can bring about meaningful change.

According to the Varsity Vibe 2024 Elections Survey, which garnered responses from over 11 000 participants, an overwhelming 93.62% of Gen Z individuals believe that their vote can influence the country's future political landscape. This high level of confidence in the power of their vote suggests a strong belief and a desire to make a difference in shaping the future. Furthermore, when asked about their intentions to vote in the upcoming 2024 May Election, a similarly high percentage of 92.58%, expressed their intention to vote. Approximately 72% of respondents believed that there would be a good turnout of youth on Election Day. This optimism regarding youth participation suggests a strong sense of civic duty and engagement with the political process among Gen Z individuals.

Several factors were identified as influencing Gen Z's voting behaviour. These include their own knowledge of government policies of different parties, with approximately 77.87% citing this as a significant factor. Additionally, trust or distrust in current political parties and leaders (62.11%) and the previous delivery of political parties (62.29%) were also identified as influential factors. While the current rating of political awareness among youth stands at 59%, there is a noticeable increase in interest and engagement with political issues.

South African Gen Z individuals appear to feel empowered by their ability to vote and believe that their vote can bring about meaningful change. Their high level of engagement and optimism regarding voter turnout in the upcoming elections, coupled with their increasing political awareness, suggest that Gen Z is poised to play a significant role in shaping the future political landscape of our nation.