OPINION: Dear undecided voter, don't take the easy way out | MandyWiener SAElections2019
Make peace with the fact that no party is going to tick all the boxes for you, unless you start your own, writesThis is not a preachy address, pontificating about how people died so that you could have the right to vote. Sure, that is absolutely critical but you know that already. In fact, that is probably one of the primary reasons that you feel so distressed that you don't know where to put your X on Wednesday.
A vote is a valuable thing. It's a demonstration of trust and confidence. You're essentially asking someone to be your representative in making laws, expressing your interests, managing your environment and ensuring that you receive basic service delivery. You don't want to squander it and waste it on someone who is not going to get that job done, or even worse, is going to enrich themselves through corruption at your expense.
The concern is that the undecided voter like you and me, who is politically homeless, will just decide not to vote on Wednesday. It's the easy way out. Voter apathy is a massive problem in the country and it's expected to get worse. In 2009, voter turnout was 77%. In 2014, it was 73%. It's likely to be lower this time around. Already we know that 10 million South Africans who are eligible to vote, didn't even bother to register.
You will also be honouring those who did sacrifice in order to ensure that we all, regardless of race and gender, have the right to vote. We have to guard against anyone who challenges that and we can only do so in exercising that freedom.
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