Introduction
A consequence of constant disappointment by leadership is that people grow cynical and suspicious of anyone in the pursuit of power. We become hopeless and weary of finding leaders who will serve the interests of communities. This also eats at our will and power as well as, our will to stand on our own and accept the space that we deem vacant. We speak out; cross-referencing morals and values that guide the community, yet we fail to act on that same merit.
Statistics of Voters in South Africa
The pressing issue therefore moves from being about inadequate leaders to citizens who are not taking account of themselves and their country. The easiest way to determine citizens’ real attitudes towards their government is by looking at the rate of registered voters. In South Africa, we sit with 55,28%, of women registered to vote, while 44,72% are men. This is according to the Electoral Commission of South Africa, where it is stated that the majority of voters are citizens between the ages of 30 to 59 years. The logic surrounding how the mass of youth alone can topple the existing leadership just by collectively registering, and voting otherwise, has since landed on silent ears as the statistics show.
Why Don’t Young People Vote?
When asking some high schoolers about their coming of age to vote, instead of talking about the importance of voting they dwelled more on the lack of opportunities and how being a politician is more an act to self-enrich as opposed to serving the public. Delving more into the conversation, the youth then advocated for empowering ourselves so that we do not rely on government as the genuine answer to dealing with our lack of astute leadership.
What Does the Future Look Like?
The relevance of voting is not lost because the youth decide not to vote, it is that the youth have an alternative understanding of where the real power lies. So, how should South Africa be governed, and by whom or what? The steady decline in voting registration, as well as fewer voters pitching to the voting station, grows more with each passing opportunity. The real crisis is that those who are young learn from those who came before them. There is a possibility that this decline will continue to worsen, to the point that measures will have to be taken to account for the voices of people. It is our democratic right to vote and make our voices heard!
Conclusion
Refusing to participate in the voting process because of people’s fear of corruption or belief that it does not represent fairness, speaks to the potential injustice performed by our democracy. Even with the change in thought among the youth, the future does not vote. The people do. And it is up to the people to decide for that future. With or without a vote.
