Why do they have mid week elections in the UK?

That’s a very good question, WWM. I wonder if anyone has tracked and identified a pattern to when Reform tends to announce it’s latest divisive policy. It feels like a constant wave to me.

Whitewavemark2

graphite thanks for that info.

Which day would be suitable to stop Reform influence - regarding their threats if failure to vote reform😄😄

😂😂😂

graphite thanks for that info.

Which day would be suitable to stop Reform influence - regarding their threats if failure to vote reform😄😄

I always voted in the evening as I was working. People are far more likely to be away from home at the weekend.

Our polling station opens at 7:00am and closes at 10:00pm (I think) plenty of time for all, but I do think a weekend would be more convenient for some.

I think the day of week has little impact on turnout though, we have had horrendously low turn-outs for decades, I feel it one doesn’t vote, don’t moan!

From The Guardian Notes & Queries.

Why are British elections always held on Thursdays?

UNTIL 1918, polling at General Elections took place over several days and at one time different constituencies could complete polling on different days, thereby - it was alleged - creating a bandwagon effect for a successful political party. The 1918 Representation of the People Act restricted polling to one day (except for Orkney and Shetland until 1929).

Since 1918 a General Election has always been on a Thursday, except for 1918, 1922, 1924 and 1931. The reason for choosing Thursday, it is said, was as follows. On Fridays the voters were paid their wages and if they went for a drink in a public house they would be subject to pressure from the Conservative brewing interests, while on Sundays they would be subject to influence by Free Church ministers who were generally Liberal in persuasion. Therefore choose the day furthest from influence by either publicans or Free Church clergymen, namely Thursday.

Although these influences are much less significant today, the trend towards Thursday becoming a universal polling day has continued, because Urban District Councils and Rural District Councils all polled on a Saturday until they were abolished under the 1972 Local Government Act. Their successor District Councils poll on a Thursday and the Parish Council polling day was changed from Saturday to Thursday at the same time. 


E. M. Syddique (Research and Information Department,) Electoral Reform Society, London SE1.

Given the number of hours that polling stations are open, I would have thought that most people, working or not, could find time to go and vote at some point if they want to (unless they are working away from home), whereas at the weekend a lot of people will have other activities on that they will prioritize, be it weekends away, days out etc.

But as LemonJam said, there is widespread postal voting available anyway for those who can't or don't want to go vote in person on the allotted day..

Just googled- yes you've had compulsory voting for Federal elections since 1924 and fined if fail to vote.

Last UK GE 2024, voter turn out was 60%, US election same year 64% and Australia 2022 around 90% of those eligible to vote cast their vote.

Don't you have compulsory voting in Australia?

All voters have the right to vote by post anyway so day of the week makes little to no difference to the ability to vote.

Don't think 100% voter turnout is the norm in any contry- what is turn out like in Australia where you live?

I don’t know, but traditionally we have always voted on a Thursday.

My guess is because originally MPs went back to the country at weekends Fri-Mon, and so this fitted better with their social life .

Ridiculous in this day and age.

But I may be wrong.