By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
The introduction of voter ID, apathy to national politics and the looming general election have all been given as factors for low turnout in local elections.
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Fewer than three in 10 voters across Southampton had their say in the polls, which saw Labour retain a strong majority on the city council, which controls services such as bins, libraries, roads, planning, social housing and social care.
The overall turnout was 29.51 per cent, continuing the downward year-on-year trend in council elections since 2021 when just over a third of eligible voters took part.
Labour council leader Cllr Lorna Fielker told the Local Democracy Reporting Service there had been a “marked decline” in the past two elections since the requirement for photo ID was introduced.
“Younger adults and people with low incomes are less likely to have the type of ID now required by the government to vote,” Cllr Fielker said.
“Lots of people are focused on surviving the cost-of-living crisis and voting in local elections is not a priority for them. Others have made the choice not to vote because they feel their one vote can’t make a difference, although this is not the case as we have seen in Southampton and around the country.”
She urged residents to vote, adding that registering for a postal vote can allow busy people to have their say at a more convenient time for them rather than on election day.
Cllr Fielker said: “Instead of putting up barriers to voting, people need to be encouraged to use their votes to take part in the democratic process and have their say in the things that affect their lives.”
Cllr Jeremy Moulton, deputy leader of the Conservative group, said local elections usually have around half the turnout of a general election.
“This is a real shame as local democracy is extremely important and often only a small number of votes can swing a ward and affect how the local area is governed,” Cllr Moulton said.
“This year’s turnout was particularly low and I think that is a reflection on how the Conservatives nationally are in the doldrums and are seeking to provide reassurance and a positive message to motivate supporters and it’s also a reflection on Labour in that whilst they have a strong national poll lead there is little enthusiasm for Labour and with their incessant flip-flopping people don’t know what they really stand for.”
Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Richard Blackman said the campaign in Southampton “felt a bit more subdued”.
“I had the feeling parties were saving their energies and their resources for the general election later in the year,” Cllr Blackman said.
“It also comes on top of the all-out (council) elections last year, so perhaps there was a bit less interest for that reason.
“I don’t know how far there was an awareness that even if a big number of seats changed hands we would still have quite a big Labour majority at the end of it, so that might have played a role.”
While there are major challenges facing the council, such as its finances, Cllr Blackman said big issues did not “come alight” in the run-up to the elections.
Turnout across the 17 council wards ranged by 15 percentage points, with a high of 37.28 per cent in Bitterne Park and a low of 22.2 per cent in Bargate.
Bitterne Park saw Labour trying to hold the seat against former Conservative councillor David Fuller.
Mr Fuller’s total of 1,545 votes would have been enough to win in every ward except the one he was competing in where he came up 89 votes short of Labour’s Gordon Cooper.
Other close races saw the Conservatives miss out in Coxford by 46 votes and Millbrook by 28 votes, while they edged out Labour in Woolston by 37 votes.
In Bargate, Cllr Blackman said it was always difficult to campaign due to there being new blocks of flats, which make it difficult to knock on doors and reach people.
“I think that’s why we traditionally have bigger turnouts in Bassett and Shirley where you have had that competitive contest,” Cllr Blackman said.
The Bassett ward councillor said another boost to turnout could come through a move to proportional representation.
Cllr Blackman said: “If all votes counted equally towards the overall outcome, potentially people would vote in higher numbers.”
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