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General election turnout 1945 – 2005

The chart below shows the percentage of registered voters who actually voted at each general election from 1945–2005. Figures do not include votes deliberately or accidentally spoiled.

Chart: General election turnout 1945 - 2005

The table below shows the same data, in reverse order, together with the percentage turnout for each of the four regions:

Year UK England Wales Scotland N.Ireland
2005 61.4 61.3 62.6 60.8 62.9
2001 59.4 59.2 61.6 58.2 68
1997 71.4 71.4 73.5 71.3 67.1
1992 77.7 78 79.7 75.5 69.8
1987 75.3 75.4 78.9 75.1 67
1983 72.7 72.5 76.1 72.7 72.9
1979 76 75.9 79.4 76.8 67.7
1974 Oct 72.8 72.6 76.6 74.8 67.7
1974 Feb 78.8 79 80 79 69.9
1970 72 71.4 77.4 74.1 76.6
1966 75.8 75.9 79 76 66.1
1964 77.1 77 80.1 77.6 71.7
1959 78.7 78.9 82.6 78.1 65.9
1955 76.8 76.9 79.6 75.1 74.1
1951 82.6 82.7 84.4 81.2 79.9
1950 83.9 84.4 84.8 80.9 77.4
1945 72.8 73.4 75.7 69 67.4

Source: House of Commons Research Papers 01/54 & 05/33

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