Turnout in the
May 2003 National Assembly Election
John Osmond
Declining turn-out is a common experience across the western democracies
and Wales is no exception. However, the 38 per cent turn-out in
the National Assembly election in 2003, compared with 46 per cent
in 1999, was especially low. A number of factors specific to the
Welsh situation can be identified. In addition the fall in turn-out
varied a great deal across the 40 Welsh constituencies, from a high
15.3 per cent fall in Caernarfon to a small increase in Wrexham,
of 0.19 per cent. The major lesson for the political parties is
that local campaigning makes a difference.
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Would you like to respond? Please email us on debatewales@iwa.org.uk
John Osmond is Director of the Institute of Welsh
Affairs. This article is based on a presentation given to a conference
on the National Assembly May 2003 general election, organised by the
Electoral Commission in Cardiff on 16 June 2003
Response by Kevin Rowe:
I thought I'd write a little about why my friends did not vote in
the 2003 elections. I am a student who was able to vote for the first
time this year and it was a proud moment in my life. My parents have
no interest in politics but always vote and I have not studied politics
in any way, shape or form even so I still found it absolutely necessary
for me to vote in the elections. My friends however were not bothered.
The most worrying reason that one came up was "one vote doesn't
make any difference anyway".. Trying to explain this to him proved
even more difficult than getting him to the polling station! I can
understand where they are coming from when they say they don't understand
Welsh politics because if I am absolutely honest neither do I. However
on the run up to the elections I make an effort to take an interest.
I think the main problem is politics isn't easily accessible, by this
I mean I had to go out of my way to learn about politics and the parties
which I could vote for. I understand a little self education is needed
but I think people need to be more informed about Welsh politics.
My local AM Leighton Andrews has been extremely helpful to me by providing
a series of websites and recommendations so I can get into Welsh politics
(after searching for his email address) to began to understand more
and hopefully make more informed choices when the next elections arise.
The internet is huge.. I don't feel it is used enough by Politicians
to get their message across to the young people. I live in the Rhondda
and now Broadband has arrived so this is even more the case now. If
it was up to me.. I'd be able to research the parties online (which
I can), I'd be able to find everything that's going on (which I can
after much searching) but I wish I could be able to vote online. This
would make me entirely happy. I just hope more is done to inform young
people about Politics because I think it is worrying that people think
that it doesn't matter and please, we must get rid of the excuse "one
vote won't make a difference." I think anybody who says that
needs to read a bit about world history.
I would also like to ask if there is an available option on a voting
slip "none of the above" - I feel this should be included
too.
Kevin Rowe
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