UK elections are approaching a “tipping point” of losing legitimacy due to plummeting voter turnout among renters and non-graduates, according to a new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). The think tank’s analysis of the 2024 general election reveals growing disparities in turnout across social and economic groups, raising concerns about political inequality and disengagement.
The turnout gap between renters and homeowners has grown by nearly 25% since 2017, now standing at 19 percentage points. Similarly, the difference in turnout between university graduates and non-graduates doubled to 11 points between the 2019 and 2024 elections. The IPPR warned that these widening gaps undermine the credibility of democratic participation.
Widening Voter Turnout Gaps
Parth Patel, IPPR’s associate director of democracy and politics, emphasized the urgency of addressing turnout inequality. “We are close to the tipping point at which elections begin to lose legitimacy because the majority do not take part,” he said.
In 2024, voter turnout among the UK’s adult population dropped to just 50%, the lowest since universal suffrage. Among registered voters, only 60% cast their ballots. Turnout disparities also persist between income groups and age demographics. The gap between 18- to 24-year-olds and over-60s remains at 21 percentage points, while turnout among the lowest and highest earners shows an 11-point difference.
Labour’s Strategy and the Rise of Reform UK
The findings have sparked concern among Labour strategists. Party leader Keir Starmer focused his 2024 campaign on winning over non-graduate voters, yet Nigel Farage’s Reform UK emerged as a strong challenger, securing second place in 89 Labour-held constituencies.
Labour’s manifesto proposed several franchise-boosting measures, including lowering the voting age to 16, simplifying voter registration, and tightening rules on political donations. However, the party stopped short of pledging automatic voter registration, though reports suggest plans are being developed.
IPPR’s Recommendations to Boost Voter Turnout
The IPPR called for bold reforms to increase turnout and reduce political inequality, proposing policies that could be implemented within the current parliament. These include:
• Lowering the voting age to 16
• Automatic voter registration
• A £100,000 annual cap on political donations
• Creating an “election day service,” where citizens are randomly selected to staff polling stations, akin to jury duty
Other suggestions include moving polling day to a weekend or making it a public holiday, scrapping voter ID requirements, and enfranchising 5 million long-term tax-paying residents who are not UK, Irish, or Commonwealth citizens.
Tackling Political Donations and Election Integrity
The report also highlighted the need for stricter oversight of political donations to prevent foreign interference. Recommendations include linking donations to the UK profits of foreign-owned companies and empowering the Electoral Commission to impose fines of up to £500,000 for campaign violations.
Ryan Swift, IPPR research fellow and co-author of the report, said, “The widening turnout gaps between renters and homeowners, and graduates and non-graduates, highlight a glaring blind spot in tackling political inequality. To rebuild trust and strengthen democracy, we need bold reforms like votes at 16, automatic registration, and fairer electoral rules.”
As trust in the electoral system faces challenges, these proposed measures aim to ensure that UK elections remain representative and legitimate in the face of growing inequality and disillusionment.
