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Advantages
- Turnout levels have risen in general elections, from 59% in 2001 to 69% in 2017
- If we combine voting for all new elections, political participation has risen (though it is still not as high as in the 1970s)
- The Scottish Independence referendum saw an engaged population and turnout at 85%, 75% if 16 and 17 year olds voted
- The European Union referendum in 2016 had a very high turnout of 72.2%
- Some argue that the election of Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party has reinvigorated young people. The 2017 general election saw large numbers of young people registering to vote and then voting
- The number and membership of pressure groups has increased, suggesting participation has changed
- There have been over 26000 e-petitions on the government's website, showing high levels of engagement
- Protesting and campaigning via Facebook has also become a popular way of participating
- Using Twitter to engage with MPs, commentators and journalists
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Disadvantages
- Turnout in general elections has been falling since 1979
- Historic low of 59% in 2001
- European, local and other elections have seen even lower turnouts
- In 2011, on average only 42% bothered to vote in some referenda
- Party membership has fallen since the 1980s (currently less than 1% of the population)
- There are fewer party activists, leading to difficulties in recruiting candidates locally
- The public are disillusioned with the lack of core difficulties between the parties, leading to partisan dealignment
- Voter registration among young people is lower than among older people
- Public trust in politicians has been undermined by, for example, sexual harassment allegations
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