TODAY.AZ / World news

Election 2015: Who are the non-voters?

06 May 2015 [13:15] - TODAY.AZ

In the 2010 general election, 35% of registered voters did not cast a ballot. Who are the "unheard third" who did not vote - and what could their role be in the coming election?

In central Manchester, there are few clues that the election is just days away.

Flags pledging allegiance to either Manchester City or Manchester United football teams hang in people's windows.

Posters pledging a political allegiance are harder to spot.

The turnout in this constituency, Manchester Central, was the lowest of anywhere in the UK in the last election - only 44% of those who registered actually voted.

The last MP for the area, Labour's Lucy Powell, was elected after a by-election in 2012 on a turnout of just 18%, thought to be the lowest ever.

She has admitted feeling "embarrassed and horrified" by the record.

But why is turnout here so low?

'Web of lies'

In a small street market in Moss Side, in the south of the constituency, it seems anger not apathy is turning people off voting.

Carer Shirley says she used to vote for Labour, but hasn't voted for at least 18 years.

She insists no-one will change her mind now.

"In inner-city areas people are suffering more than 10 years ago. Why should we vote for this?" she says.

"They spin a web of lies, and then six months later they're doing the complete opposite. Just let them get on with it.

"When campaigners knock my door, I don't answer. Not interested. We don't vote."

Tony Bellows, a 55-year-old civil servant who lives nearby in Hulme, agrees.

"They're just a bunch of liars. They're just puppets putting a story forward to grab your eye," he says.

"That's what I teach my kids. They've totally broken all trust."

The issue of broken trust is a common refrain here; as are feelings that "all politicians are the same" and that "voting won't make any difference" - either because their vote is one amongst millions, or because of a belief that the system is corrupt.

And it's a trend that seems to have played out among non-voters across the country.

A Survation poll which questioned people who didn't vote in the 2010 election found the sentiments cited by those on the streets of Manchester were among the top three reasons people didn't go to the ballot box.

Only 6% of non-voters sampled trusted politicians to tell the truth - compared with 9% of voters.

"A deeply disillusioned citizenry that will be hard to motivate" is how the Hansard Society described the British electorate in its audit of political engagement earlier this year.

It predicts that, as in 2010, turnout will be lowest among ethnic minorities, people who rent rather than own their home, and those on lower incomes.

The UK's lowest ever election turnout was 57% in 1918, just after World War One. It reached a peak of 83% in 1950, and has seemingly been on a slow but steady decline since.

But are warnings about the gradual death of democracy and rise of political apathy from some quarters to be heeded?

Professor of British Politics at Cardiff University Pete Dorey argues not.

He predicts turnout may be higher on 7 May because it's been such a close-run race.

"More people feel their vote might count more," he says.

"When one party is miles ahead, even their own supporters don't necessarily turn out.

"I think turnout in Scotland will be high because of the referendum. I think people will feel energised to vote."

He says some people may be suffering from "democracy fatigue" because of the frequency of elections - council, EU, mayoral, police commissioner - but he says it's a "dangerous assumption" to think all non-voters are apathetic.

"It can be apathy, but can be a perfectly rational decision. And yes, that's just as much of a democratic choice as not voting.

/By BBC/

URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/140488.html

Print version

Views: 942

Connect with us. Get latest news and updates.

Recommend news to friend

  • Your name:
  • Your e-mail:
  • Friend's name:
  • Friend's e-mail: