More registered voters in South Lanarkshire didn’t turn out in 2017 than those who voted for the winning candidate.
Statistics released by the Electoral Commission revealed that more than 80,000 voters in the region didn’t vote at the last general election – enough to tip the scales 100 times over in two of the three constituencies.
In Lanark and Hamilton East, there were 26,581 non-voters – 10,000 more than the 16,444 people who voted for the SNP’s winning candidate Angela Crawley.
Rutherglen and Hamilton West saw the most non-voters at 28,925 – Labour’s Ged Killen polled 19,101.
The SNP’s Dr Lisa Cameron was elected in East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow with 21,023 votes compared to the 26,023 people who didn’t vote.
In contrast, the figures also revealed that 37 people in South Lanarkshire tried to vote only to find they weren’t registered.
Lanark and Hamilton East saw 19 people turn out to vote when they weren’t registered while 10 in East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow and eight in Rutherglen and Hamilton West were also turned away.
Political groups in South Lanarkshire are now urging residents who are eligible to register so they don’t miss having their say.
Councillor Mark McGeever (Hamilton West and Earnock), deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats group, said: “Whatever our differences I hope all the parties agree we need to encourage everyone in our communities to use their vote. If people don’t vote it becomes far too easy for those in power to ignore them and their needs.”
Labour group leader Cllr Joe Fagan (East Kilbride Central North) added: “This is one of the most important elections there has been in years and nobody should miss out on their chance to vote.
“People used to say that their vote wouldn’t make a difference or that political parties were all the same. That is absolutely not the case in this election.”
SNP councillor Josh Wilson (Hamilton South) said: “Every election is important, but this one is the most important of our lifetimes. The future of our country is at stake for generations to come.
“This election is about who we are as a nation and who has the right to decide our future.”
Conservative group leader Cllr Alex Allison (Clydesdale East) added: “The close results of the three major parties in these constituencies at the last general election, show how significant each vote is within South Lanarkshire.
“It is important that those eligible to vote are registered and use their vote - a small number of votes could tip the balance of who we elect as our Members of Parliament.”
