While voters will receive three quite different looking ballots on May 29, this seeming increase in choice is not necessarily translating into greater excitement. Yes, some independents will feature for the first time and, yes, there are some interesting new parties. But with some form of coalition likely, voter enthusiasm has been dampened by the poor performance of such arrangements at the municipal level. Before treating the day as a day off, however, South Africans would do well to remember the sacrifices made to ensure that all adult citizens have the right to vote.