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| UK election historic turnouts since 1918 | UK election historic turnouts since 1918 |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Just how bad was the turn out in the elections for police and crime commissioners? | Just how bad was the turn out in the elections for police and crime commissioners? |
| The Electoral Reform Society is predicting a final turnout of just 18.5% nationally in the PCC vote - and in Wiltshire, 15.8% of the population voted in this election. So, how does that compare? | The Electoral Reform Society is predicting a final turnout of just 18.5% nationally in the PCC vote - and in Wiltshire, 15.8% of the population voted in this election. So, how does that compare? |
| Well, stepping momentarily outside the political sphere, 15,488,019 votes were cast during the 2010 edition of The X Factor, equivalent to 23.18% of those eligible to vote (includes Ireland). This figure gives an inflated idea of the number of people taking part, with individuals able to cast multiple votes, but provides an interesting reference point nonetheless. | |
| Wiltshire's figure certainly makes it one of the worst turnouts ever - although slightly higher than that in the Manchester Central by-election yesterday too. That itself was the lowest by-election turnout ever, lower than the previous record of 19.1% in Leeds Central in 1999. | |
| We have turnout figures for the vast majority of elections since 1918 - including general elections, local, European and major referendums, all thanks to the House of Commons Library. This is what the data shows. | We have turnout figures for the vast majority of elections since 1918 - including general elections, local, European and major referendums, all thanks to the House of Commons Library. This is what the data shows. |
| Basically, Brits don't vote in elections that aren't general. The highest turnout ever was in the general election of 1950, won by Labour's Clement Attlee. In fact the average turnout for general elections between 1918 and 2010 is a respectable 73.3%, with the lowest being war-torn Britain's 57.2% in 1918. | Basically, Brits don't vote in elections that aren't general. The highest turnout ever was in the general election of 1950, won by Labour's Clement Attlee. In fact the average turnout for general elections between 1918 and 2010 is a respectable 73.3%, with the lowest being war-torn Britain's 57.2% in 1918. |
| By contrast, local election average turnouts have been shrinking - to 42.3%, with the lowest ever being 1998's 28.8%. And even the high-profile votes for London's mayor average only 37.9% - just above the European vote. | By contrast, local election average turnouts have been shrinking - to 42.3%, with the lowest ever being 1998's 28.8%. And even the high-profile votes for London's mayor average only 37.9% - just above the European vote. |
| But that pales against the lowest-ever vote in a European election of 24% turnout in 1999. That's lower than the UK's first ever European vote of 32.35% in 1979. The European election average turnout for the UK is just 33.52%. | But that pales against the lowest-ever vote in a European election of 24% turnout in 1999. That's lower than the UK's first ever European vote of 32.35% in 1979. The European election average turnout for the UK is just 33.52%. |
| The data also covers major constitutional referendums in Wales and Scotland - with the two Scottish ones of 1979 and 1997 averaging 62% compared to 54.35% in Wales. | The data also covers major constitutional referendums in Wales and Scotland - with the two Scottish ones of 1979 and 1997 averaging 62% compared to 54.35% in Wales. |
| Data summary | Data summary |
| UK election turnouts since 1918 | UK election turnouts since 1918 |
| Click heading to sort table. Download this data | Click heading to sort table. Download this data |
| SOURCE: HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY | SOURCE: HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY |
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