Description: Topics covered in the questionnaire are: democracy and governance issues, municipal attitudes and performance, Identity documents, voter registration, voting history, most recent voting experience, voting irregularities, general perceptions on voting, electronic voting, perceptions of voting in terms of special groups, media and information issues with regard to the profile of the electoral commission, voter education, interest in social/cultural/religious organisations.

Of the targeted population of 3500, 2976 responses (85%) was realized.

The data set for dissemination contains 2976 cases and 579 variables Abstract: The Electoral Commission's Voter Participation Survey (VPS) is a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey that was conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) between October and December 2015. The study aims to inform and guide the Commission with its plans, policies, and practices by evaluating voting behaviour and interest ahead of the 2016 local government elections. In this study, the broader political landscape in South Africa is examined together with factors that might impact voting behaviour, such as perception about the performance of government and attitudes towards democratic values. Specific issues, such as the involvement of women, youth and persons with disabilities in elections, are also examined.

For this study, 500 Population Census Small Area Layers (SALs) were sampled as primary sampling units, stratified by province, geographical sub-type, and majority population group. A total of 2,976 individuals aged 16 and older were interviewed in households which are geographically spread across the country's nine provinces. The data are weighted and benchmarked to Statistics South Africa's mid-year population estimates for 2015 to ensure that the results are representative of the population older than 15 years. Adherence to ethical and quality protocols was stringent. This survey represents the views of 37 320 005 South Africans of 16 years and older.

Face-to-face interview

National Population: Adults (aged 16 and older).

SASAS has been designed to yield a representative sample of 3500 adult South African citizens aged 16 and older (with no upper age limit), in households geographically spread across the country's nine provinces. The sampling frame used for the survey was based on the 2011 census and a set of small area layers (SALs). Estimates of the population numbers for various categories of the census variables were obtained per SAL. In this sampling frame special institutions (such as hospitals, military camps, old age homes, schools and university hostels), recreational areas, industrial areas and vacant SALs were excluded prior to the drawing of the sample.

Small area layers (SALs) were used as primary sampling units and the estimated number of dwelling units (taken as visiting points) in the SALs as secondary sampling units. In the first sampling stage the primary sampling units (SALs) were drawn with probability proportional to size, using the estimated number of dwelling units in an SAL as measure of size. The dwelling units as secondary sampling units were defined as "separate (non-vacant) residential stands, addresses, structures, flats, homesteads, etc." In the second sampling stage a predetermined number of individual dwelling units (or visiting points) were drawn with equal probability in each of the drawn dwelling units. Finally, in the third sampling stage a person was drawn with equal probability from all 16 year and older persons in the drawn dwelling units.

Three explicit stratification variables were used, namely province, geographic type and majority population group. As stated earlier, within each stratum, the allocated number of primary sampling units (which could differ between different strata) was drawn using proportional to size probability sampling with the estimated number of dwelling units in the primary sampling units as measure of size. In each of these drawn primary sampling units, seven dwelling units were drawn. This resulted in a sample of 3500 individuals.

A list of the 500 drawn SALs were given to geographic information specialists (GIS) and maps were then created for each of the 500 areas, indicating certain navigational beacons such as schools, roads churches etc.

Selection of individuals: For each of the SASAS samples interviewers visited each visiting point drawn in the SALs (PSU) and listed all eligible persons for inclusion in the sample, that is all persons currently aged 16 years or older and resident at the selected visiting point. The interviewer then selected one respondent using a random selection procedure based on a Kish grid.