democracy and participation

• how can voter turnout be seen to be on the rise?


  since 2001 has been a slow rise in voter turnout from 59% in 2001 to 69% in 2017 - however it fell back in 2019 to 67%.
• how many people voted in 2019 who had degrees and above?

  69%
• how many people voted in 2019 with those who didn't have a degree?

  59%
• how can an increased use of referendums suggest rising participation?


  offers more participation opportunities + important ones have high turnout. 1998 referendum on Good friday agreement 81% turnout. 85% for scottish independence referendum
• what was the london mayor and assembly referendum turnout?

  34%
• how can the trade union movement be seen to have declined?

  membership in 2016 had reached an all time low at 6.23 million
• what percentage of the uk population are a member of a political party?

  around 1.7%
• how can referendums be seen to enhance democracy?


  there is support for the wider use of referendums on key political decisions with 55% of the public agreeing that important questions should be resolved by referendums
• how can referendums be seen to limit democracy?


  there is an absence of popular control over when and where they will be used.
• how can recall elections be seen to enhance democracy?


  increase accountability and limit corruption. Fiona Onasanya was recalled after being convicted and sentenced to 3 month in prison for perverting the course of justice.
• how can recall elections be seen to limit democracy?


  they do not make MPs accountable enough due to the narrow set of criteria under which MP's can be recalled.
• what percent of the country who are eligible to vote are not registered in 2019?

  around 17%
• what is the argument for compulsory voting?

  increase engagement and therefore legitimacy of elected bodies.
• what is the argument against compulsory voting?


  people should have a choice whether or not to participate.