Rusthall Election: High Turnout

A correspondent in the local newspaper gushes thus:

As a politics graduate of old, I would like to express delight at the hugely increased ward turnout to nearly 50% from 34% (2008) in support of all the candidates for the new Rusthall Parish Council.

Hmm.

Whilst the turnout for the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council election for Rusthall is recorded as 49.62%,  the percentage for the parish council election is recorded as 47.83%.

The percentages for the wards in the borough  elections are as follow: 

                                                                                            2008          2011

Benenden and Cranbrook                                                  38.65                47.18
Brenchley and Horsmonden                                              42.35                50.36
Culverden                                                                          31.50                42.38
Goudhurst and Lamberhurst                                             37.90                51.03
Hawkhurst and Sandhurst                                                 37.19                46.79
Park                                                                                   34.38                46.33
Pembury                                                                            40.06                48.54
Rusthall                                                                             34.27                49.62
Sherwood                                                                          28.93                35.38
Southborough East and High Brooms                              31.91                37.92
Speldhurst and Bidborough                                              40.37                53.69
St John's                                                                            35.81                44.02

Increased turnout in every ward. The reason being advanced for the increase is that people turned out to vote in the AV referendum.  Whilst there was undoubtedly a parish election factor in the increased turnout in Rusthall, voting in other wards suggests that other factors also were in play.

In wards where it is possible to make comparisons, the percentage vote in the parish election was higher than the borough ward election - except in Rusthall.