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UK cities

Average voter turnout in UK general elections by selected UK cities 1997-2024

Voter Turnout by Selected UK Cities 1997 - 2024

Voter turnout in these selected UK cities fell between 1997 and 2001, and thereafter steadily recovered until 2019. However, voter turnout dropped sharply for all selected cities from 2019 to 2024. Glasgow had the second lowest voter turnout in 2024 among the selected cities, with Edinburgh consistently having the highest turnout in all general elections since 1997. 

Proportion of votes won by political parties in  Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester, 2001-2024

Percentage of votes by political parties, selected UK cities, 2001-2024Labour consistently received the most votes in the cities of Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Manchester, until the 2015 General Election, when the Scottish National Party (SNP) took the lead across the Scottish cities. In the 2024 General Election, Labour received the most votes in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Labour remained the most popular party in Liverpool and Manchester throughout, but the support for ‘Other’ smaller parties in the 2024 election increased considerably at the expense of the major parties.

Notes

The Electoral Commission's report on the 2024 election considered potential reasons for lower turnout across the UK, including issues with postal voting, attitudes towards the political system, and this being the first election for voters in Wales and Scotland where ID was required to vote (this had already been in place in England).

It is difficult to make accurate comparisons between Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow over time due to changes to constituency boundaries, so these comparisons should be treated with caution.

As of 2024:

  • Glasgow comprises six constituencies:  Glasgow East, Glasgow North, Glasgow North East, Glasgow South, Glasgow South West and Glasgow West.
  • Liverpool comprises five constituencies: Liverpool Riverside, Liverpool Walton, Liverpool Wavertree, Liverpool West Derby and Liverpool Garston.
  • Manchester comprises six constituencies: Manchester Central, Manchester Gorton and Denton, Manchester Withington, Manchester Blackley & Middleton South, Manchester Rusholme and Wythenshawe & Sale East. 

Last updated November 2024.

Further reading under ‘Voting’