The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) unveiled on Wednesday a mobilisation campaign aimed at encouraging eligible voters to register and participate in the municipal elections set to take place in October.

The mobilisation campaign will roll-out on Wednesday in two phases across television, radio, digital and outdoor channels across the country under the slogan ‘Every Voice Together’.

The first phase will focus on voter registration ahead of the voter registration weekend planned for July 17 and 18. All registered voters are urged to check and update their registration details and new voters can also register.

The second phase will roll-out ahead of Election Day on October 27, to mobilise the electorate to vote.

Currently the voters’ roll has 25.75-million registered voters.

According to the chief electoral officer Sy Mamabolo the major focus of the campaign included encouraging young and first-time voters to register and vote to boost voter registration numbers ahead of the closing of the voters’ roll on proclamation by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs expected in early August.

Based on population estimates from Statistics South Africa it is estimated that some 15-million eligible voters remain unregistered. Of these, about 60 percent are under the age of 30.

“This is not necessarily a reflection of so-called ‘apathy’ by young people. Young voters have had fewer opportunities to register than older voters – with millions only qualifying for registration over the past 24 months since the last major voter registration drive,” said Mamabolo

He said the IEC was currently working with political parties within the National Party Liaison Committee to finalise alternative and additional modalities for registration.

IEC chairperson Glen Mashinini said that the elections were an opportunity for a new generation of South Africans to take on the mantle of supporting democracy, from previous generations.

“This is a journey that the youth of our country from one generation to the next sacrificed so much for. Our responsibility today is equally critical but vastly easier than their sacrifices: Firstly, we must register to vote and ensure our registration particulars are up to date. Secondly, we must participate actively in the coming elections. And thirdly we must at all times be safe and consider the safety of others,” he said.