Displaying voter gains and losses: Local government elections in South Africa for 2011 and 2016

Abstract

Every five years, the South African population goes to the polls to elect local government councilors. These elections are fought along party lines, however, independent candidates are also allowed to participate. This paper looks at the change of voter behavior between two subsequent local government elections from 2011 and 2016. The percentage voter gains and losses for the top three political parties in South Africa are shown. In the election of 2016, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party suffered its biggest loss since 1994. The Democratic Alliance (DA) showed an increase in votes between the two elections and, the new kid on the political block, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), showed its biggest gains in the same areas where the ANC showed its largest losses. Three methodologies were used to show these voter behaviors, namely cartograms, 3D maps and thematic cartogram. The latter was used to show both losses and gains in the same cartogram.