Friday November 22nd 2019
Written by Midlothian View editor, Phil Bowen
At the 2017 General Election, 66.4% of people who were eligible to vote in Midlothian did so. This election turnout was very slightly below the Scottish average of 66.8% and behind the UK overall average of 69%.
Being close to the average number of voters is one thing but it does mean that 22,984 eligible voters did not vote.
In 2017, Danielle Rowley Scottish Labour Party, was elected as the Midlothian MP with a margin of 885 votes.
Had those non-voting voters formed the ‘Did Not Vote’ party they would have been elected with a margin of 6,526 votes.
It is important that everyone has a democratic voice by using their vote. So no matter how you intend to vote, please do use your vote. Your vote really does count.
If you have not already registered to vote or you have changed address since the last election then it takes five minutes to do so at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Everyone must register by 11:59pm on Tuesday 26th November to vote in the General Election on 12 December.
If you wish to vote by post then you have until 5pm 26th November to register to vote by post here www.lothian-vjb.gov.uk/absent-voting/.
If you wish to appoint someone you trust to cast your vote for you here then you have until 5pm on Wednesday 4th December to apply for a proxy vote.www.lothian-vjb.gov.uk/absent-voting/.
You can read the manifestos of each party (their published declaration of intentions) as they become available at www.useyourvote.com
Midlothian 2017 General Election result:
Party | Votes |
---|---|
Chris Donnelly (Scottish Conservatives and Unionist) | 11,521 |
Ross Laird (Scottish Liberal Democrats) | 1,721 |
Danielle Rowley (Scottish Labour Party) | 16,458 |
Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party) | 15,573 |
Ballot Papers Rejected | 71 |
Total Votes | 45,344 |
Eligible voters who did not vote | 22,984 |
The figures were provided by Midlothian Council and The Electoral Commission.
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