Voter turnout for the 2014 national elections was proportionally lower than turnout from the 2009 election, according to preliminary results from the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s national results operations centre in Pretoria on Friday afternoon.
At 5.15pm, national ballot turnout stood at 73.41%, with 99.9% of the votes counted. In terms of votes, from 25 388 082 registered voters, 18 460 609 voters decided to make their mark at the ballot box.
In 2009, 77.30% of registered voters nationally voted (votes counted/registered voters in completed districts: 17 919 966 / 23 181 997). Voter turnout across all provinces was lower in 2014 compared to 2009.
The highest voter turnout in 2014 among the provinces was in KwaZulu-Natal, where 76.91% (3 932 009 / 5 112 310) of registered voters made their mark. In 2009, voter turnout was 79.87% (3 574 326/4 475 217).
Gauteng, at 76.54% (4 484 316 / 5 858 923) was second. In 2009, turnout was 79.06% (4 391 699 / 5 555 159).
Mpumalanga was third, with 75.68% (1 408 268 / 1 860 834). Turnout in 2009 was 80.38% (1 363 836 / 1 696 705).
The Western Cape came fourth, at 74.39% (2 188 ,236 / 2 941 333). In 2009, turnout was 77.78% (2 049 097 / 2 634 439).
The Northern Cape, with the least number of registered voters, was fifth with a turnout of 73.82% (443 714 / 601 080). In 2009, turnout was 75.96% (421 490 / 554 900). It was the province that also saw the smallest decline in turnout, at 2.14%.
Sixth position belonged to the Free State, 72.56% (1 024 904 / 1 426 881). In 2009, turnout was 76.99% (1 069 127 / 1 388 588).
The Eastern Cape was seventh, at 70.32% (2 278 555 / 3 240 059). In 2009, turnout was 76.69% (2 344 098 / 3 056 559). It also saw the highest difference in voter turnout between the two elections, with a drop of 6.37%.
Eighth was the North West, with 68.76% (1 147 786 / 1 669 349). In 2009, turnout was 72.6% (1 135 701 / 1 564 357).
Limpopo had the lowest voter turnout, at 63.31% (1 542 432 / 2 435 708). In 2009, turnout was 69.62% (1 570 592 / 2 256 073). – Sapa