More than 90% of respondents in the IRR’s 2026 #PledgeToVote Survey believe voting makes a difference, highlighting the value participants place on having a say and holding politicians to account.
The most frequently selected reason for believing voting matters was that “not voting lets others decide on my behalf”, chosen by 27.5% of all respondents. Holding politicians accountable followed at 19.1%, while 18.1% selected influencing who makes important decisions.
The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) is running the #PledgeToVote initiative in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS).
Says Hermann Pretorius, head of strategic communications at the IRR: “The most common reason respondents gave for believing voting matters – “Not voting lets others decide on your behalf” – goes to the heart of local democracy.
“Your vote helps choose who makes decisions about your community’s water, roads and refuse collection. Politicians must answer for those decisions, and voting is one way citizens can hold them accountable.
“These findings, though not part of an empirical survey, give us useful insights into what motivates respondents to value voting: having a voice, choosing decision-makers and demanding accountability. The task is to turn that conviction into participation.”
The #PledgeToVote Survey is an IRR initiative to gather views on voting and local government. It is not a scientific opinion poll. So far, the survey has received 1,017 responses.
Through #PledgeToVote, the IRR and KAS encourage South Africans to use their vote to help shape how their communities are governed.
[Image: by Prostock-studio]