Voter turnout is projected by the CSIR to decline across all provinces in the 2019 elections, compared to the 2014 elections.
The sharpest decline is expected in KZN, the Free State, Mpumalanga and the North West. The smallest declines are in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng.
Turnout is the percentage of registered voters that go to make their mark.
The highest 2019 turnout rates are expected in Gauteng and the Western Cape, the two most contested provinces. This confirms expectations that tight races and competitive elections encourage voters to the polls. It also matches trends in the 2014 elections, when provinces with large urban centers increased their turnout relative to the rural provinces.
The lowest turnout rates of registered voters are in Limpopo, the Northwest and Eastern Cape.
Provincial turnout: 2014 and 2019 CSIR predictions compared
| Provinces | 2014 (%) | 2019 (%) | Difference – %points |
| Gauteng | 73 | 68 | 5 |
| Western Cape | 73 | 66 | 7 |
| KZN | 76 | 65 | 11 |
| Northern Cape | 71 | 64 | 7 |
| Limpopo | 61 | 55 | 6 |
| Eastern Cape | 63 | 59 | 4 |
| Free State | 71 | 61 | 10 |
| North West | 66 | 57 | 9 |
| Mpumalanga | 73 | 63 | 10 |
Collette Schulz Herzenberg
