Document acquisition challenges and procedural unfamiliarity present distinct hurdles for different age groups when registering to vote.
A survey released by TIFA Research on July 24, 2026, highlights contrasting factors discouraging citizens aged 18 to 24 compared to those aged 45 and older from registering as voters.
For young adults, missing documentation stands out as the primary obstacle. Half of non-registered citizens aged 18 to 24 cite a lack of a National ID or other required documents as their main reason for not registering.
Another 20 per cent report not having time to register, while 18 per cent express a lack of interest in voting or politics. Awareness and administrative issues prove less prominent for this group, with 7 per cent unaware of the registration exercise, 5 per cent encountering administrative challenges, 4 per cent finding registration centres far or inaccessible, and 1 per cent lacking faith in election results.
In contrast, older unregistered citizens face largely informational and systemic barriers. Among those aged 45 and above, 37 per cent cite a lack of awareness regarding the registration exercise.
Administrative challenges impact 26 per cent of this demographic, while 20 per cent report a general lack of interest.
Identical shares of 15 per cent point to time constraints, inaccessible registration centres, and a lack of faith in election results. Only 11 per cent of older non-voters identify missing National IDs or required documents as their chief impediment.
