WebRoots Democracy/YouGov poll shows majority want online voting implemented in the 2016 London Mayoral Election

59% of Londoners who are online support the inclusion of an online voting option in next year’s London Mayoral Election, a new YouGov poll commissioned by WebRoots Democracy has revealed.

The online poll of 1,047 adults in London, also found that almost 50% of voters for each of the four main political parties (Conservatives, Labour, Lib Dems, and UKIP) back the reform with support particularly high amongst Labour voters (70%).

Support is strong across all age groups with half of those aged 60 and over in favour of voting online next year.  70% of those aged 25 to 39 are in favour.

In another WebRoots Democracy/YouGov poll released today, 56% of the British public who are online are in favour of implementing an online voting option for the upcoming EU referendum. The poll of 1,543 adults in Great Britain, also found that support for the reform is strongest in London (59%).

WebRoots Democracy is calling for the introduction of an online voting option and warns that persistently low voter turnout in London Mayoral Elections calls into question the legitimacy of the position.

Voter turnout in London Mayoral Elections since 2000 averages just 39% and has never reached 50%.

Founder of WebRoots Democracy, Areeq Chowdhury said:

“Next year’s London Mayoral Election will be the first major vote in the UK since the General Election.

The Mayor of London wields significant power in the capital and the Government is currently seeking to replicate the position across the country with a Mayoral election planned for Greater Manchester in 2017.

The core of a representative democracy is the participation of the public in elections. An average turnout of 39% in London Mayoral Elections is dire and calls into question the legitimacy of the position.

It’s clear that the majority of Londoners support the implementation of online voting and the Government should take this seriously by beginning to draw up long overdue plans for its introduction.”

Figures released last year, by the Office for National Statistics, showed that 76% of the adult population use the internet on a daily basis.

Do you think the UK should introduce an online voting option for elections?  Take a moment to sign and share our e-petition.

Click here to download the full survey results.