‘I’m so proud!’: Cape Town mother and daughter share first-time voting experience
Maxine Peters said she was proud to share the experience of exercising her democratic rights with her daughter Jorja.
Celeste Martin
Inked thumbs of Maxine Peters and her daughter Jorja, a first-time voter. Picture: Supplied by Maxine Peters.
Supplied by Maxine Peters.
For Maxine Peters and her daughter Jorja, voting in the 2026 Local Government Elections was a particularly special occasion, as they headed to the Parow Park voting station in Cape Town together for Jorja's first time at the polls.
Maxine said she was proud to share the experience with her daughter, who had finally joined her family tradition of voting early in the morning.
"I'm super proud. It's normally my husband and I who come and vote.
"I'm just happy she got up this morning. That was my big problem [that] she wouldn't want to get up, but yeah, she's up, and we're here."
While the family was used to voting together, this was a new experience for 18-year-old Jorja, who said she felt a sense of belonging as she prepared to cast her first ballot.
"It's an unusual experience because I'm obviously not used to this, but I think I'll vote well for today.
"I think it's a really special experience because I actually feel like a real citizen today."
Jorja said inclusivity was one of the things that mattered most to her when deciding who to vote for, adding that it was important to consider everyone in the country and their communities.
For Maxine, seeing her daughter take part in democracy was a reminder of how voting can become a meaningful family tradition.