Very low turnout in some areas so far

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

I’ve just been out to vote and cavass, and was told that turnout in some wards up to now has been “very, very low”. The officials at my polling station said it looked as if it would be down from 2004, and had been about 15-20% to that point, although of course that was a rough estimate for one ward.

However, I voted in Islington North, which is the second biggest CLP in the country – and a Labour stronghold – so it’s very worrying. Although there are only European elections, and not council elections, in my area, some of the targeted Labour voters I spoke to – people who have consistently voted Labour over the last ten years – were just not interested in voting. I’m not saying the Labour vote is collapsing, not at all, but the anger is palpable and seems more powerful than the good coverage the elections have received.

Meanwhile, I’ve received an email from Hope not Hate, saying the BNP is getting a higher turnout.

So clearly, we need to continue to try and get out the vote.

Below is a selection of Tweets and messages from other areas, which I’ll update throughout the rest of the afternoon. Looks like mixed fortunes.

Bristol: “BNP car doing the rounds in St George, bedecked with flags. No sign of any other parties knocking up.”

West Yorkshire: “Phoning voters, support is holding up well, 70%+ of our supporters are getting out to vote!”

London: “Polling stations empty.”

London: “At local tube station handing out ‘Vote Now!’ Labour flyers. Going down reasonably well…”

NEW! Barnsley: “Turnout in Barnsley looks to be pretty good. That’s a heartland.”

NEW! West Yorkshire: “Turnout and response in both Keighley & Ilkley W.Yorks good but not great. Very active CLP is doing well getting the vote out.”

NEW! St Pancras & Somers Town: “Our figures currently put Labour turnout 5% higher than general turnout.”