Turnout at British general elections has varied over the years but in recent elections, voter turnout has been less than some believe is healthy for a democracy. For example, in the 1979 election, nearly 25% of those who could have voted did not do so.
1832: 70.4%
1835: 65.0%
1837: 63.6%
1841: 63.5%
1847: 53.4%
1852: 57.9%
1857: 58.9%
1859: 63.7%
1865: 62.5%
1868: 68.5%
1874: 66.4%
1880: 72.2%
1885: 81.2%
1886: 74.2%
1892: 77.4%
1895: 78.4%
1900: 75.1%
1906: 83.2%
1910: 86.8%
1910: 81.6%
1918: 57.2%
1922: 73.0%
1923: 71.1%
1924: 77.0%
1929: 76.3%
1931: 76.4%
1935: 71.1%
1945: 72.8%
1950: 83.9%
1951: 82.6%
1955: 76.8%
1959: 78.7%
1964: 77.1%
1966: 75.8%
1970: 72.0%
1974: 78.8%
1974: 72.8%
1979: 76.0%