An article examined the extent to which young women were interested in politics. Young people might have turned away from the ballot box and from parliamentary politics: but, when questioned, they were actually interested in political issues.
Source: Jacqueline Ellen Briggs, 'Young women and politics: an oxymoron?', Journal of Youth Studies, Volume 11 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Dec
The government began consultation on whether to move elections to weekends, as part of efforts to boost engagement in the democratic process.
Source: Election Day: Weekend Voting, Cm 7334, Ministry of Justice, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Consultation document | MOJ press release | BBC report
Date: 2008-Jun
A survey found that although 80 per cent of people with learning disabilities were registered to vote, only 1 in 6 participated in their previous local election and 1 in 8 in the previous general election. The complexity of the system, a shortage of accessible information, and a lack of learning disability awareness training for councillors, MPs and other political stakeholders, were all cited as key reasons for the low turnout.
Source: Press release 1 May 2008, United Response (020 8246 5200)
Links: United Response press release
Date: 2008-May
A report said that a lack of political representation for people from black and ethnic minorities was one of the key reasons for the lack of BME political participation. It also exacerbated a sense of alienation. The report recommended 'permissive/voluntary' types of positive action (rather than mandatory ones) in order to tackle the problem.
Source: Simon Woolley, How to Achieve Better BME Political Representation, Operation Black Vote (020 8880 6061)
Date: 2008-May
An article reported a study which found statistically significant differences in the relative rates of electoral participation between polling districts. The differences appeared to be spatially clustered, particularly with respect to local elections, possibly reflecting an increase in the concentration of party campaigning in marginal wards.
Source: Scott Orford, Colin Rallings, Michael Thrasher and Galina Borisyuk, 'Investigating differences in electoral turnout: the influence of ward-level context on participation in local and parliamentary elections in Britain', Environment and Planning A, Volume 40 Number 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2008-Apr
A report said that experienced election observers had raised serious concerns about how well United Kingdom election procedures measured up to international standards. There had been at least 42 convictions for electoral fraud in the period 2000-2007. Greater use of postal voting had made elections far more vulnerable to fraud. There was widespread, and justifiable, concern about both the comprehensiveness and the accuracy of the electoral registers.
Source: Stuart Wilks-Heeg, Purity of Elections in the UK: Causes for concern, Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust ((01904 625744))
Links: Report | Summary | Unlock Democracy press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Guardian report
Date: 2008-Apr
A report examined the local elections held in Scotland in May 2007. It said that the introduction of the 'single transferable vote' system had been a success – it had produced more representative councils, allowed voters to express their views on who they wanted to represent them in a more sophisticated way, and given most voters a councillor of their choice.
Source: Lewis Baston, Local Authority Elections in Scotland: Report and analysis, Electoral Reform Society (020 7928 1622)
Links: Report | ERS press release
Date: 2008-Feb