The Growing Importance of Older Voters: An Electoral Demographic Model for Analysis of the changing Age Structure of the Electorate
Scott Davidson, Loughborough University, 2005.
Demographic change is transforming the age structure of our society. According to the 2001 Census, there are more people over 60 than under 16. Inevitably demographic change affects the electoral register.
Retired people already account for one fifth of eligible voters in the UK. Older people are also much more likely to vote than other age groups. In 2005, 71% of 55 to 64 year olds voted and 75% of those over 65. That is, older voters comprised 41.2% of all voters compared with a youth vote (18-24 year olds) of 6.6%. Older voters are also becoming more volatile. 14% of the 70 seats with the highest proportions of older voters changed hands, compared with 8% of seats nationally.
Because ageing and retirement related issues do not begin to effect voters the day after retirement, this demographic analysis refers to the 55 to 64 age group as well as those over 65.
Click here to download the Growing Importance of Older Voters report (239KB)
Click on the menu options on the left to see graphical representations of selected data from the report.
