By Martin Banks - 20th April 2009
Parties must try harder to engage with the electorate and encourage them to vote in this election
Martin Callanan
Just under one fifth of voters do not intend to vote in June's European elections.
According to a new survey, 19 per cent of electors said they were already certain that they would not vote.
Some 34 per cent of possible voters surveyed across the EU, however, say they are already certain that they will go and vote on 4-7 June.
The poll, which was taken between January and February, does not predict the final turnout in the elections but, rather, attempts to draw a comparison between those who definitely intend to vote and those who definitely intend to stay at home.
On policy issues, respondents expressed greatest concern about the economy: the topic which preoccupied them most was unemployment (57 per cent), closely followed by economic growth.
Other major concerns were inflation and purchasing power, and pension security. The first non-economic subject on the list of respondents’ stated interests was crime (29 per cent) followed by the security of energy supply (27 per cent) and climate change (26 per cent).
The EU-wide survey comes in the wake of an €18m parliamentary campaign which aims to raise awareness of the elections.
Concerned at the steady decline in turnout over the years and polls reporting that respondents felt they lack information, the campaign focuses on specific policy options available.
Responding to the findings, UK Conservative MEP Martin Callanan said it shows that more needs to be done to persuade people to vote.
"I think the parliamentary campaign is a waste of money but, clearly, all political parties must try harder to engage with the electorate and encourage them to vote in this election."
"If the turnout in some countries, like the UK, is as high as 34 per cent I would be surprised."
A parliament spokesman said, "It is hoped that as the different parts of the campaign become visible from April in all EU countries, interest in and knowledge of the elections will rise.
"Also, in the weeks leading up to the elections, the political debate will heat up. More solid indications of voters' intentions are expected in those weeks."
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