Local election turnout averages almost half that of general’s, with Norfolk district council elections on the horizon we took to the streets to establish the reasons for this apathy towards local politics.
District, town and parish elections are being held on Thursday, May 4 in Norfolk’s seven council authority areas, with the postal voting deadline passing on Tuesday.
Local election turnout averages almost half that of general elections, with a turnout of 33.9% for the 2021 local elections in Norfolk.
That was just above half of the 67.3% of voters that made it to the ballot box for the 2019 general election but despite this drastic drop off, Norfolk is less than one point below the national average local election turnout of 34.7%.
Older generations historically tend to show up for elections in far greater numbers than any other demographic and usually have an established political home. However, recent issues such as Brexit and Covid-19 seem to have created unprecedented levels of uncertainty.
Ahead of the May 4 votes, we spoke to people in Norwich city centre and only three of 17 people were aware they were happening – with just two intending to vote.
Retired company director and taxi driver Richard Parker, 80, has voted Conservative his whole life. At the district council elections in 2021, he shifted his allegiance, voting for the Green Party, saying: “I would have never dreamt of doing that but I was so irritated at the rest of them.”
Despite his support for the Greens in the last election Richard went on to say “as far as local elections are concerned, I guess I am a non-voter”, citing a focus on supporting the Conservatives at a national level but having no interest in their local policies.
He added: “In general, I think they have always done more for the country but locally they’re a load of idiots.”
This political homelessness amongst the older generations was reiterated by David Eastall, who said he was drawn to Labour last time “but things are awkward at the moment”.
He added: “I could change, I am a bit of a floating voter.”
Focus on the national party agenda is inevitably a theme, particularly with younger voters.
UEA student Lewis Vandamme, 22, said: “Although I do take an interest in politics, I’m ambivalent when it comes to this local election but if I did vote I would vote for the Liberal Democrats at both local and national elections.
“I believe their policies would help to unify the nation.”
This feeling was echoed by fellow student Sam Revell, 21, who said he didn’t know there were local elections approaching and that he doesn’t plan on voting.
His reasoning was that the only issues that concern him, such as “climate change and securing cheap and sustainable energy production”, he feels can be better dealt with at the national level.
A second, and perhaps more prominent, cause for low turnouts among younger people is where many get their news from – namely, social media.
Fast-food worker Esabella Vata, 22, said she didn’t know that there was such a thing as local elections.
The combination of this general apathy amongst youngsters and an increase in political homelessness amongst the elderly suggests turnout is unlikely to increase in 2023.
Read the rest of the article here: https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/23464192.will-turnout-low-norfolks-local-elections/
Henry Tuppen 
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