Elections and Referendums- Trends in Voting Behaviour Flashcards
(36 cards)
What factors affect voter behaviour?
- Personality of a candidate or party leader
- Attractiveness of manifesto pledges
- Influence of the campaign and media
- Voter profile (social class, occupation, gender, ethnicity, age)
- Individual views on important policies
- Performance of the current government
- Nature of the electoral system
These factors can interact in complex ways to influence election outcomes.
What does the primacy model emphasize?
Importance of long-term factors and voter profile, suggesting stable voting patterns
The primacy model focuses on enduring characteristics that influence voter choices over time.
What does the recency model emphasize?
Importance of short-term factors and current issues, suggesting volatile voting patterns
The recency model highlights how immediate events and leadership can sway voter decisions.
How does the performance of the current government affect voter behaviour?
It influences voters’ perceptions and decisions based on their satisfaction with governance
Voters often assess the effectiveness of the current government when casting their votes.
What was considered crucial when analysing voting behaviour until recently?
Social class
Social class played a significant role in determining voting patterns.
Which party did the working class tend to vote for during the post-1945 period?
Labour
The working class consistently supported the Labour Party.
Which classes predominantly voted for the Conservative Party during the post-1945 period?
Middle and upper classes
The Conservative Party primarily attracted middle and upper-class voters.
What role did the Liberal Party serve during the post-1945 voting period?
A middle ground and refuge for protest voters
The Liberal Party provided an alternative for those dissatisfied with the major parties.
What did parties adopt in their policies to appeal to their core supporters?
Class-based policies
Policies were designed specifically to resonate with the class composition of their supporters.
What are safe seats in the context of voting behaviour?
Large areas where certain parties are unchallenged based on class composition
Safe seats are regions where one party dominates due to the demographic profile.
What major social changes from the 70s impacted the definition of class?
Deindustrialisation, immigration, and changing social attitudes
These factors made it more difficult to define social class.
What is class dealignment?
Class has become less important in how voters see themselves
Voters no longer identify strongly with a particular social class when voting.
What is partisan dealignment?
Parties are less class based
Voters feel less allegiance to a specific party based on their class identity.
What is the significance of more floating/swing voters?
Individuals are less faithful to a single party
This requires parties to appeal to a broader base of voters.
What is the rise of identity politics?
Discussion and campaigning around issues of identity such as religion, race, or gender
Identity politics has emerged as an alternative to traditional class-based politics.
What percentage of the vote did Labour and Conservatives receive in the 2019 election?
75.8%
Despite the emergence of minor parties, Labour and Conservatives still dominated the vote.
Which types of parties have emerged recently alongside Labour and Conservatives?
Minor parties
Minor parties have gained attention, but major parties still hold a significant share of votes.
What is the role of nationalist parties like the Scottish SNP and Irish Sinn Fein in UK elections?
They make multiparty elections the norm in their regions
Nationalist parties have changed the electoral landscape in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
How have Eurosceptic parties like UKIP performed in elections?
They have fared well in European elections and are seen as stealing votes from Conservatives
UKIP’s success indicates a shift in voter preferences regarding EU membership.
What trend in age has become a clearer signifier of voting behavior than class in modern times?
Age
How does age correlate with voting for the Conservative Party?
The older a person is, the more likely they are to vote Conservative
What percentage of 18–21-year-olds voted Tory in the 2019 general election?
21%
What percentage of voters aged 70 and older voted Tory in the 2019 general election?
67%
Who was more popular among younger voters in the 2019 general election, Corbyn or Johnson?
Corbyn
