EU elections: Estimated voter turnout up at nearly 51%

People are casting their votes for the European Parliament Elections in Helsinki. Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva/dpa

Voter turnout in the European Parliament elections is estimated to be around 51%, according to initial reports, the European Union legislature announced on Sunday evening.

This initial estimate is up from 50.66% in 2019, according to parliament figures. "This is a positive sign for European democracy," a spokesman for the parliament said.

The spokesman said this increase in turnout was in the majority of EU countries, stressing however that as Italy was still voting, this estimated turnout figure could yet change.

The parliament is elected for a new term every five years in a poll that could see up to 360 million people across the 27 EU member states cast their ballots over four days.

Ricarda Lang (R), Chairwoman of Alliance 90/The Greens (Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen) and and Omid Nouripour, Chairman of Alliance 90/The Greens (Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen), leave the stage after the announcement of the first forecasts for the results of the 2024 European elections at the Greens' election party in the Columbiahalle. Christoph Soeder/dpa
A woman stands at the Green Party election party in the Columbiahalle during the announcement of the first forecasts for the results of the 2024 European elections. Christoph Soeder/dpa
Lisa Paus (C), German Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, talks to Sergey Lagodinsky (L), lead candidate of the Greens for the 2024 European elections, and Hannah Neumann (R), Member of the European Parliament, during the announcement of the first forecasts for the results of the 2024 European elections at the Greens' election party in the Columbiahalle. Christoph Soeder/dpa