UK Elections Ranked in Bottom Half of Countries in Europe for Election Quality

Strategic Insights -

The UK has long been regarded as a stronghold of democracy, but a recent report has revealed that the country's election quality has significantly declined. According to the Global Electoral Integrity Report, the UK ranks 24th out of 39 countries in Europe, a stark contrast to its historical reputation as a leader in democratic elections. The report measures electoral integrity as the extent to which elections empower citizens, and the UK's recent election scored poorly in this regard. The country's weaknesses in the electoral system, voter registration, and participation have contributed to its low ranking.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK's election quality has declined significantly, ranking 24th out of 39 countries in Europe, according to the Global Electoral Integrity Report.
  • The country's electoral system is unfair to smaller parties, with Labour winning nearly two-thirds of the seats in parliament despite receiving less than 10 million votes.
  • Automatic voter registration is not in place in the UK, with an estimated 7-8 million people not correctly registered or missing from the registers entirely.
  • Voter turnout in the UK was low, with only half of adults voting in the 2024 election, and voting has been made more difficult due to the introduction of compulsory photographic identification.
  • The spread of disinformation by overseas actors in elections has become a significant challenge, and there was evidence of disinformation in the UK's recent campaign.
  • More than half of candidates experience abuse and intimidation during the electoral period.
  • The government has yet to act on these issues, despite promising to address them in its election manifesto.
  • The Reform party is ahead in the polls and has consistently promised proportional representation, which could lead to electoral system change if they come to power.

Statistics:

  • The UK ranks 53rd out of 170 countries globally for election quality.
  • Labour received less than 10 million votes in 2024, but won nearly two-thirds of the seats in parliament, a total of 412.
  • The electoral system generated a very disproportional result in 2024, with Labour winning a massive majority in terms of parliamentary arithmetic but not widespread support.
  • 7-8 million people are not correctly registered or missing from the registers entirely.
  • Only half of adults voted in the 2024 election.
  • More than half of candidates experience abuse and intimidation during the electoral period.
  • The Reform party has consistently promised proportional representation.

Sources:

  • The Conversation -- UK -- By Toby James, Professor of Politics and Public Policy, University of East Anglia
  • The Global Electoral Integrity Report
  • Time Magazine
  • Electoral Integrity Project
  • https://theconversation.com/low-turnout-and-an-unfair-voting-system-uk-elections-ranked-in-the-bottom-half-of-countries-in-europe-260396