[Stuart]

I think it's risky to hold a winter election. Yes, people still go to work obviously, but how many would want to make the extra effort to go and visit a polling station on a dark, cold, wet/icy/snowy morning or evening rather than just go home where it's warm and watch the TV etc? Granted, people interested in politics and/or who feel their civic duty probably would, but the less interested voters, many of whom may be swing voters, might decide not to make the effort.

Very little effort is involved in the act of voting. Are people afraid to leave or arrive at work when it is dark in Winter? I don't think so.

Turnout figures seem to indicate otherwise. The media will concentrate on a Winter GE just as much as they do on one in the middle of Summer.