Pressure is mounting on Andy Burnham to introduce compulsory voting, with a £10 fine for those who fail to vote, according to a report from the left-leaning IPPR think tank. The proposal, which aims to address low turnout among younger and less educated voters, has drawn sharp criticism from the Conservatives, who label it a 'bizarre plan'.
IPPR Calls for Mandatory Voting
The IPPR, known for its influence on Labour policy, recommends that all eligible UK residents face a £10 fine if they fail to vote in elections. The think tank argues that declining turnout and political inequality are undermining democracy. Its analysis found that at the last election only 56% of 18-24-year-olds voted, compared to 81% of those aged 61 and over. Additionally, just six out of 10 people with the least educational qualifications voted, while eight out of 10 with a university education cast a ballot.
Conservative Opposition
Shadow Communities Secretary Sir James Cleverly condemned the proposals, stating: 'Under these bizarre plans, sixteen-year-olds will be allowed to vote in an election but not stand as candidates. They will be able to vote, but not buy a lottery ticket, consume alcohol, marry, or go to war. Andy Burnham must rule out adopting these policies and urge Labour to reverse its wrongheaded plans for votes at 16.' The Conservatives expressed no support for the compulsory voting measure.
Support from Labour-Aligned Groups
The IPPR report follows a similar call from Labour Together (now ThinkLabour) in May, which also advocated for compulsory voting. The IPPR states: 'The minimum responsibility of a democratic citizen is to participate in elections.' The think tank claims low voting rates skew politics towards the 'interests of older, wealthier, white voters'. It points to Australia, where compulsory voting was introduced in 1924 and turnout has rarely fallen below 90%, as a model for Britain.
Proposals to Increase Turnout
To make voting easier, the IPPR backs the introduction of a polling day bank holiday and suggests including a 'none of the above' option on ballots, allowing voters to participate without endorsing any candidate. The report warns: 'Declining turnout, political inequality and a rising sense that voting doesn't matter are the surest signs of the fragmenting of the public, the weakening bonds of common citizenship.'
Context of the 2024 Election
In the 2024 election, just under six out of 10 eligible people voted, and Labour won 412 of the 650 seats in Westminster with only 33.7% of the vote. The IPPR paper argues that compulsory voting would reduce turnout differentials between groups, forcing politicians to take greater account of the interests of all voters.
