No sign of a surge in applications to vote in European elections

European elections will take place at the end of May. Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA. - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images

With just one week to go until the deadline to register to vote for European elections, there has been little sign of a surge in applications.

Nearly 135,000 people submitted applications in the seven days to April 29, according to government figures.

This was up on the previous seven days – which included the four-day Easter break – but below the total recorded in preceding weeks.

The UK is due to take part in elections to the European Parliament on May 23, but only if the government has failed to get MPs to approve its Brexit deal by polling day.

Figures show that 133,981 applications were submitted in the seven days to April 29.


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Half of these came from people aged 34 and under, while just 7% came from people aged 65 and over.

Last week an MP revealed that fewer than 300 of the crucial second forms to allow EU citizens to vote in the UK had been receivied by the Electoral Commission. This represents less than 0.01% of those eligible to vote.

A new non-partisan campaign was launched this week to encourage young people to register to vote.

• To find out how to register to vote in the European elections read this guide on our website.