Compulsory voting and civic education

That this House is alarmed by the sustained decline in voter participation at UK general elections; recognises that turnout at the 2024 general election fell to 59.7%, the lowest since 2001 and a drop of 7.6% from 2019; notes that low voter turnout is also an issue in local elections and by-elections across the UK; acknowledges the precedent set by Australia, where compulsory voting was introduced in 1924, with the immediate effect of raising turnout to 91.4% at the subsequent election, with 90% turnout consistently maintained ever since; is further alarmed that fewer than 42% of teachers in England report that their school provides regular citizenship lessons, despite nearly two-thirds of the public supporting an increase in civic education; further notes that young people themselves report they are not taught about the political system and do not know how to vote or register to vote; believes UK democracy would benefit from the introduction of compulsory voting to increase democratic participation and that this should be accompanied by the introduction of a comprehensive programme of civic education; and calls on the Government to use the Representation of the People Bill to provide a much-needed refresh of the UK’s democracy to put forward proposals for compulsory voting alongside a programme of civic education in schools and for adults.