Tara Roos is a 20-year-old hailing from South Africa who works as a policy writer, researcher and political analyst. She has dedicated her career to breaking down barriers to democratic participation and ensuring all citizens, especially young people, understand and engage with governance processes.
As the founder of SoWeVote, Tara spearheaded efforts to increase youth voter registration and turnout, recognizing the urgent need to engage first-time voters in South Africa. Her work led to the registration of over 50,000 first-time voters ahead of the 2024 elections. Additionally, through The Participation Project, she has developed an innovative Public Participation Programme, that tracks legislation currently under review in Parliament and provides clear, easy-to-understand breakdowns of proposed laws. The initiative ensures that citizens know when and how to submit public comments, giving them direct access to decision-making processes that impact their lives.
Following the 2024 elections, Tara was invited to serve on South Africa’s Electoral Reform Consultation Panel, a position that allows her to shape the future of democratic processes at an institutional level.
