July 4th will see voters go to the polls for the first time since 2019 to elect 650 Members of Parliament to the House of Commons. The party that wins the most seats will form the new government. It comes against a backdrop of record-low support for the Conservatives, with Labour way ahead in the polls since Boris Johnson’s departure in mid-2022. With such a grim outlook for the Conservatives, you might expect a sweeping majority for Labour. This is, however, threatened by an overall negative outlook on politics in the UK. A report by polling expert John Curtice has outlined that politics is currently at its worst for trustworthiness and confidence in our system.

Feelings of apathy towards our politics during this GE campaign will be an important trend to follow in the run-up to the election date. This apathy is something Labour will have to consider and not become complacent with. 

The election is not as simple as everyone putting an ‘X’ in their preferred party and leaving the Polling Station. For many in the UK, there is real worry over who to vote for. Voter apathy has grown over this parliament as well as apathy for politics overall. Disenfranchisement by the political establishment and a rejection of the main parties are apparent among a large demographic of voters, especially young people.

Not only does this create bad faith, but it also creates conditions for less representative politics. If elections suffer from low turnout due to political apathy, then the result is missing a huge chunk of the electorate.

Let’s take the Blackpool South parliamentary By-Election in May as a recent case study. Back in the 2019 GE, Blackpool South had 57,690 eligible voters, of which only 56.8% chose to vote – i.e., 25,000 people did not vote. If all who could vote did vote, the outcome could have swayed massively as the Conservatives won the seat with just 3,700 more votes than Labour. In an even more stark example, the by-election held in May of this year had a turnout of just 32.5% of eligible voters, meaning more than two-thirds of voters did not go to the polls in their latest opportunity to participate in direct democracy. The low turnout saw one of the highest swings in votes of this parliament and Labour gained a majority of 7,607 over the Conservatives. This is a clear indication of how voter apathy can significantly alter the political landscape and why your vote is crucial.   

The issue of low turnout could well be one of the distinguishing features of the 2024 General Election, and it is why voting must be encouraged. Feeling disenfranchised by our politics is not uncommon. With politics occupying such a negative space in the public eye, it can be easy to simply shake your head and hold your hands up in complete disbelief. Disenfranchisement and low turnout have become key features of our democracy in recent years as people protest about what options they have.  

Politics is often all about compromise, and your vote can be the same. Everyone who can register must register to vote by the end of today (June 18) to ensure our elections are as representative as possible at a time when we need it most. Remember, your vote is not just a mark on a piece of paper, it’s a powerful tool that can shape the future of our country. Your voice matters, and it’s time to make it heard.  

You can register to vote until 23.59 PM today (Tuesday 18th of June 2024) by visiting GOV.UK