Innovative open-source platform MyCandidate South Africa ( #MyCandidateSA), spearheaded by Open Cities Lab (OCL), is reshaping voter engagement in South Africa's upcoming 2024 elections. By leveraging technology to provide accessible and transparent information, #MyCandidateSA empowers voters with the knowledge they need to make informed choices at the polls. During the 2021 Local Government Elections, #MyCandidateSA reached over 118,000 unique users in just 10 days, demonstrating its powerful impact on voter turnout. For the 2024 Elections, #MyCandidateSA aims to reach more voters with easy-to-understand information about the candidates on the ballots. 

Tackling Information Barriers with Tech:

In today's digital age, traditional methods of accessing electoral information often present obstacles. Scattered information, cumbersome PDFs, and lack of accessibility can hinder informed participation. #MyCandidateSA tackles these challenges head-on by providing a web-based solution that addresses the lack of accessible candidate information for voters, fostering a more informed electorate through technology. Our platform saves voters’ time by presenting candidate information in a more accessible format than lengthy PDFs. For example, the only way to view a list of the parties and candidates in this year’s elections is through a long document published by the IEC. It is cumbersome and time consuming to sift through. The MyCandidate South Africa page is far simpler, with users simply choosing their province from a drop down selector and getting a succinct list of parties and independent candidates that they will see on the ballot paper on election day, as well as the option to click through to a Google search of the party or candidate if they would like to research further.

This empowers voters to quickly find the information they need, regardless of technical background. 

Open-Source for Broader Impact:

Beyond the South African elections in 2024, #MyCandidateSA's open-source code allows for customisation and adaptation by  organisations in other countries facing similar challenges. This fosters a collaborative effort to improve democracy and voter engagement practices globally - a core mission of Open Cities Lab. 

OCL Calls for Collaboration:

Open Cities Lab invites South African voters, newsrooms, media houses and CSOs  to join the movement towards a more informed and inclusive democracy by making use of the MyCandidate South Africa platform ahead of the 2024 Elections. Together, we can harness the power of innovative technology and open-source platforms to strengthen democratic processes for a more democratic future in South Africa. 

Get Involved:

To learn more about #MyCandidateSA and Open Cities Lab visit [ https://southafrica.mycandidate.africa/ ]

MyCandidate South Africa (official page for 2024 elections). Join us in leveraging technology for a stronger democracy - find your candidates, vote informed!

For media inquiries or interview requests contact media@jtcomms.co.za or call (011)788 7632.

Issued by JT Communication Solutions on Behalf of Open Cities Lab - #MyCandidateSA - https://southafrica.mycandidate.africa/