UK voter turnout 2024

In the UK's general election of 2024 voter turnout was estimated to have been 60 percent, the lowest turnout since 2001, when it was 59.4 percent. Between 1922 and 1997 voter turnout never fell below 70 percent, but in 2001 it dropped to just 59.4 percent. Since that low point, voter turnout has gradually recovered and reached 72.2 percent in the Brexit Referendum of 2016, which is still some way off the peak of 83.9 percent recorded in the 1950 General Election. The trend of low voter turnouts in recent times is also reflected in the European elections, which had its lowest voter turnout in 2014 at 42.61 percent.

Labour rides wave of discontent to power in 2024

Labour's victory in the 2024 general election was broadly anticipated, with Keir Starmer's party enjoying a comfortable lead in opinion polls from late 2021 onwards. This gap widened further during Liz Truss' short time as Prime Minister, following an acute economic crisis in late 2022 which saw her resign after just 44 days, and propel Rishi Sunak to power. Although Sunak restored a degree of stability after the reigns of his predecessors, Johnson and Truss, he ultimately failed to convince the public he could address the main issues facing the country. By the time of the election, Labour was seen as being more competent on the economy, immigration, and healthcare, the three major issues for voters on the eve of the election. Among prospective Labour voters, the main reason for almost half of people intending to vote for them was to "get the Tories out", compared with just five percent who agreed with their policies.

A winter election in 2019

The irregular timing of the 2019 general election, which took place on December 12, 2019, was due to the political chaos caused by Brexit, and the failure of the UK to agree a deal to leave the European Union that year. The Conservatives won 365 seats in this election, achieving a large enough majority to get their Brexit deal approved in the House of Commons after three and a half years of political chaos. Although the Conservatives then led the polls throughout much of 2020 and 2021, their popularity proceeded to sink considerably, especially due to Boris Johnson's alleged involvement in a number of political scandals, particularly that of "partygate". Following an avalanche of resignations from his government, Johnson himself resigned on July 7, 2022, paving the way for Truss to succeed him a few months later

Voter turnout in general elections and in the Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom from 1918 to 2024

Characteristic	Voter turnout
2024*	60%
2019	67.3%
2017	68.8%
Brexit Referendum 2016	72.2%
2015	66.2%
2010	65.1%
2005	61.4%
2001	59.4%
1997	71.4%
1992	77.7%
1987	75.3%
1983	72.7%
1979	76%
Oct 1974	72.8%
Feb 1974	78.8%
1970	72%
1966	75.8%
1964	77.1%
1959	78.7%
1955	76.8%
1951	82.6%
1950	83.9%
1945	72.8%
1935	71.1%
1931	76.4%
1929	76.3%
1924	77%
1923	71.1%
1922	73%
1918	57.2%