Every result rests on one quieter number: turnout.
Turnout is the share of people who actually voted. This independent guide explains how UK figures are calculated, how they have moved since 1918 and how they differ between elections. It covers no parties, candidates or opinions.
General information only, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, speak to a qualified lawyer or a free advice service.
COMPARE ELECTIONS
Which election are you looking at?
Pick a type of election to see the turnout at its most recent contest before January 2023. The bar shows roughly how high it was.
Figures from the House of Commons Library briefing Turnout at elections (CBP-8060, 10 January 2023). For Scotland and Wales, the higher of the constituency and list turnouts is shown.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
A long way from 1950.
The highest general election turnout in a century, and the figure for July 2024.
83.9%
Highest UK general election turnout in 100 years
The Commons Library says turnout peaked at 83.9% in 1950, and stayed above 71% at every general election between 1922 and 1997.
PEAK · HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY
59.9%
Turnout at the 2024 general election
Writing in The Conversation, Professor Toby James put 2024 turnout at 59.9%, the lowest since 2001 and down from 67.3% in 2019.
2024 · UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA
In 2001 turnout fell to 59.4%, its lowest level since 1918, when it was 57.2% partly because of a low service vote and 107 uncontested seats (House of Commons Library).
FOUR WAYS TO READ TURNOUT
Check the fraction before the headline.
Turnout figures are easy to quote and easy to misread. These checks help you compare them fairly, whatever the election.
Ask what the bottom number is
UK figures usually divide by people registered to vote. People who are eligible but not registered are not counted at all, so a share of eligible adults would come out lower.
Compare the same kind of election
A local election and a general election draw very different turnouts, so compare like with like.
Treat age figures as estimates
There are no official UK figures for turnout by age. Estimates come from surveys such as the British Election Study and carry some uncertainty.
Check the register is up to date
GOV.UK says you normally register once, again only if your name, address or nationality changes, and it usually takes about 5 minutes.
AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.
BY-ELECTIONS
The widest range of all.
AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.
When a seat falls vacant between general elections, a by-election is held. The Commons Library found that for by-elections from 1979 to 2022 turnout averaged 50.2%.
The range was wide: from 18.2% at Manchester Central in 2012 to 87.1% at Fermanagh and South Tyrone in 1981. This site is an independent informational guide and is not linked to any party, campaign, polling company or electoral body.
Questions
Questions people ask
How is election turnout calculated in the UK?
The House of Commons Library calculates it as the total number of valid votes as a proportion of all people registered to vote, unless it states otherwise.
What was the highest UK general election turnout?
According to the Commons Library, the highest in the last 100 years was 83.9% in 1950. Turnout stayed above 71% at every general election from 1922 to 1997.
Why is local election turnout lower?
Turnout is normally highest at general elections and lower at devolved, local and European Parliament elections. The Commons Library gives 35.9% for local elections in England in 2021, against 67.3% at the 2019 general election.
Do younger people vote less?
There are no official figures by age, but survey estimates show a gap. Ipsos MORI estimates for 2019, cited by the Commons Library, put turnout at 47% for 18 to 24 year olds and 74% for over-65s.
Do I need photo ID to vote?
GOV.UK says you need accepted photo ID to vote in person at UK parliamentary elections and some other elections, with different rules in Northern Ireland. Check GOV.UK for the full list of accepted ID.
