The United Kingdom is gearing up for its general election, with the Conservative Party facing a potential defeat and Labour poised to form a government. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in a Downing Street announcement amidst a downpour, declared July 4th as the polling date, marking an early election. While the UK has no law mandating Thursday elections, this tradition has been in place for over 89 years.
The Fixed-term Parliaments Acts of 2011 typically dictates that elections be held on the first Thursday of May every five years, but deviations are possible. The 2019 general election took place on December 12th, and the 2017 election was on June 8th. The last election held in May was in 2015 on the 7th. All of these were held on Thursdays.
This ingrained tradition stems from several factors. Fridays were deemed unsuitable due to being payday, a time for relaxation and social activities. Sunday was considered off-limits as it’s a day of worship for many, and there were concerns that religious influence might sway voters. Thursdays, being a traditional market day, provided an opportunity for people to cast their ballots while going about their daily business.
Another argument for Thursdays is the logistical efficiency. Results are typically announced by Friday morning, allowing for a seamless handover of power over the weekend. The newly elected prime minister has ample time to assemble their Cabinet and be prepared to brief civil servants by Monday. This routine ensures minimal disruption to governance.
Despite the established practice, calls for a change to weekend voting have been gaining momentum. Professor Ailsa Henderson of the University of Edinburgh argues that weekend voting would appeal to a broader segment of the population, potentially increasing turnout. However, concerns about the added cost of overtime for election staff have been raised.
While Thursday elections have been the norm for nearly a century, a notable exception occurred in 1978. The Scottish town of Hamilton held a by-election on a Wednesday to avoid clashing with the opening of the 1978 football World Cup in Argentina. This highlights Britain’s passionate embrace of the beautiful game.
The last general election not held on a Thursday took place on a Tuesday in October 1931. As the UK prepares for its upcoming election, the age-old tradition of Thursday voting will continue, while the debate for a shift to weekend voting persists.
