A group of very rich people have realised that they can mobilise non-voters through targeted ads, platform influencer subsidies, and a paid-for ground game: the hope is relatively modest investments can be turned into massive payouts via preferential access to policy-making after the 2029 election.
Dan Hind
Reform mobilising non-voters looks to be a big story from this year’s locals. As so often, non-voters are the “dark matter” of politics - rarely discussed but so numerous they even mobilising a small slice can have big effects. Particularly in low turnout local elections.
Frustrated with the election pundits talking as if votes only 'swing' from one party to another. I did some analysis of the results, and my modelling (based on votes only, not polls) suggests that the largest movement since 2024 local elections (by a long way) is from 'Did Not Vote' -> Reform
