Description: Topics covered in the questionnaire are: democracy and governance issues, attitudes towards government performance, identity documents, voter registration, voting history, most recent voting experience, voting irregularities, general perceptions on voting, electronic voting, perceptions on voting in terms of special groups, media and information issues with regard to the profile of the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), voter education, interest in social/cultural/religious organisations, political participation.

Of the targeted population of 3500, 2761 responses (79%) was realized. The data set for dissemination contains 2761 cases and 602 variables. Abstract: The overall objective of the 2018 Voter Participation Survey (VPS) is to inform and guide the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) in its plans, policies and practices in undertaking the 2019 national elections. The specific objectives of the study are to evaluate the general state of democracy in South Africa, to determine voting intention and behaviour and to examine the electoral and political involvement ahead of the 2019 national elections. A specific focus of the project is also to determine participation patterns of the youth and other vulnerable groups.

In 2018, the IEC appointed the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) to undertake this Voter Participation Survey. Similar surveys have been undertaken prior to the 1999, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2016 elections. These types of Voter Participation Surveys are usually commissioned approximately 5 months prior to the actual elections, to allow the IEC enough time to implement recommendations that might emanate from the research. One of the core aims of the study is to understand what drives participation and how participation rates can be improved, especially given the increasing low voter turnout. Of particular concern is also whether vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and persons with disabilities, are provided for during the elections.

Specific objectives of the study are to:

Evaluate voting behaviour in South Africa and determine public perceptions on their participation in voting for the forthcoming national elections (2019).

Determine the public’s views on the work of the IEC as an elections management body.

Test the opinion of people on the performance of government, including the role of various institutions.

Assess people’s level of interest and participation in national elections and political activities in general.

Investigate the patterns of participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, including other demographic groups in elections and political activities; and

Measure the level of public trust in the IEC. The primary objective of the Electoral Commission Voter Participation Survey methodologically study.

This study issues related to people’s participation in the elections. In meeting this objective, the HSRC conducts this study commissioned by the IEC to obtain reliable scientific information.

Face-to-face interview

National Population: Adults (aged 16 and older).

The survey 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.