Voting Behaviour: Age

Age and Voting Preferences:

• Link: Age correlates with voting behaviour.
• Earnings Influence: As people age and reach higher earnings, a tendency to favour Conservative policies emerges.
• Example: In the 2019 general election, 67% of voters over 70 voted Conservative, while 56% of 18-24-year-olds voted Labour.

YouGov's Perspective on Age:

• Age Division: YouGov identifies age as the most significant division in British politics.
• Impact: For every 10 years older, the chance of voting Tory increases by around nine points, while the chance of voting Labour decreases by eight points.
• Switch Point: In the 2019 election, voters tended to switch from Labour to Conservative at the age of 39.

Age in Referendums

Scottish Independence Referendum (2014):

• 62% of 25-29 year olds voted yes.
• Support for independence declined with age, reaching 33% among those aged 70 and above.
• Exception: 16-19 age category with 46% voting yes.
• EU Referendum (2016):
• Older voters are more likely to vote to leave.
• In the 18-24 age group, 29% voted leave, compared to 64% in the 65 and over age category.
• Age, alongside education, is a key dividing factor.

Impact on Turnout:

• Turnout Dynamics: Age can affect turnout, with younger people less likely to vote than older people.
• British Election Study: Turnout among young people has increased over the last three general elections, while turnout among the 55-74 age group dipped in 2019.
• Speculation: The winter election in 2019 may have contributed to the turnout dynamics.

---

Voting Behaviour: Age

Conclusion:

Age plays a crucial role in shaping voting behaviour, with distinct patterns observed across elections and referendums. The correlation between age and political preferences, particularly in the context of party support and referendum choices, underscores the significance of age as a key determinant in the modern political landscape.