Disinterest: The AV referendum failed to register with many voters

AV referendum sees modest turnout

AV referendum sees modest turnout

By politics.co.uk staff

Turnout for the AV referendum varied between 50% and 35%, it has been confirmed.

The highest level of participation was in Scotland (50.7%), where the public was voting on parliamentary elections, and lowest in London (35.4%), where there were no other polls taking place.

The figures dispelled rumours that turnout had fallen through the floor, with some observers talking nervously of a figure around the 10% mark.

Overall the turnout was slightly above the 40% mark. Earlier, MPs had debated and then rejected plans to make the referendum reliant on that level of turnout.

A YouGov internet poll released after polls closed suggested a big win for the ‘no’ camp, with 62% to 38%.

If verified in the final vote, that could prove difficult for coalition relations, with Nick Clegg losing one of the big rewards keeping his MPs in line.