Turnout on track to be lowest for more than 20 years

Turnout at the General Election is on track to be the lowest for more than 20 years.

After 649 of 650 results had been declared, the turnout figure stood at 59.8%.

This is down sharply from an overall turnout of 67.3% at the last election in 2019.

It is also the worst turnout at a general election since 2001, when the figure slumped to 59.4%: the lowest since before the Second World War.

The highest turnout at a general election since the war was 83.9% in 1950, according to figures compiled by the House of Commons Library.

Turnout remained above 75% at every post-war general election until 1970, when it dipped to 72.0%.

It then stayed above 70% at every election until plunging to 59.4% in 2001 – since then it has never been above 70%.

The final turnout figure for the 2024 election will be confirmed on Saturday morning, when the last result is due to be declared, for the seat of Inverness, Skye & West Ross-shire.