Voting is a not only a right but an honour and a privilege. It is a duty and an obligation to ensure that we vote.
We should not plead, beg, or cajole citizens to perform their duty.
We must stop complacency and apathy regarding voting.
The right to vote and participate in governance is one of the most cherished rights in South Africa.
If more young people would vote, then politicians would be forced to focus on topics millennials find important.
But if they have never seen politicians solve issues important to their generation, why should they take the time to engage with the political system?
Here again, voter education can help. More young people need to understand that the power of their vote only works when they vote.
They must not wait for politicians to choose to listen; young voters need to force them to listen. And we need to help by educating them to develop a habit of engagement.
Young people are interested in politics and engage in many civic and political activities: from demonstrations against university tuition fees to the boycotting of products to campaigns against smoking or environmental issues.
Young people are often interested and engaged in key issues, but are put off by politicians and political parties.
We need to do a better job of teaching our younger voters that their votes do indeed matter.
We cannot expect young voters to process information only at voting time.
This process must be continual and better integrated into the institutions we rely on to inform and educate us.
It is incumbent on our schools, our government and our media professionals to provide them with better and more accessible information.
How can one not experience the joy and satisfaction of participating in one of the greatest gifts they have been given?
Naushad Ally Ismail
Durban North
