I don’t know what the turnout for tomorrow’s referendum will be, but I hope it is high.
I personally have voted in each and every election I have been eligible for since I turned 18 in 2001. That year, coincidentally, had the lowest voter turnout in any election since the Second World War of just 59.4% of registered voters bothering to turn up to place their X in a box.
The turnout has risen a little in every subsequent election, rising to 66.1% in 2015. (Source: ukpolitical.info/Turnout45.htm)
The same website also provides data for turnouts in the European elections, comparing the UK to the European average. The data goes to 1979, and the UK average has NEVER been higher or in line with the EU average. The closest we came was in 2004 (UK: 38.52%; EU: 45.47%).
So, given that people fought for the right for as many people as possible to vote, don’t people do it?
I think it boils down to ignorance in the end. I think the majority of people don’t know enough about the systems used in politics in general to make an informed decision.
So, as always, I don’t really mind which way you vote tomorrow, but make sure you vote.
