turnout

Question 1

what are the 4 main reasons for a decline in turnout

Answer 1

• DISILLUSION with politics among the young, general APATHY, belief that politics has nothing to do with the things that concern the young and that VOTING WILL NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
• young people finding OTHER WAYS OF PARTICIPATING IN POLITIC —> e-petitions, DD
• ABSTENTION when someone does not vote because they do not believe any of the parties are worthy of their support or represents them well enough
• younger people tend to be more interested in SINGLE ISSUES RATHER THAN POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES

Question 2

what was turnout at the 1950 election and 2001 election and what was 2001 an example of?

Answer 2

• 1950 = 84%
• 2001 = 59.4% - foregone conclusion - everyone knew Blair would win so didn’t turn up - quiet landslide

Question 3

what is a reason to suggest turnout will increase

Answer 3

• turnout is high at referendums - chance for direct democracy - can be involved and vote different to how their local MP may if they are being whipped
  —> 2014 = 84% turnout SI
  —> 2016 = 72% turnout Brexit

Question 4

what is partisan dealignment

Answer 4

• the process where an individual no longer identify themselves with a certain political party

Question 5

what % of people voted one of the 2 main parties in 1970 compared to 2019 and what does this show

Answer 5

• 1970 = 89%
• 2015 = 66%
• people are moving away from labour/conservatives —> partisan dealignment

Question 6

what is the evidence for and against a decline in 2-party dominance
- partisan dealignment

Answer 6

• party dealignment - 1970, 2015 = 89%, 66% voted tory/labour - shows people are moving away from a 2party system
• evidence for 2party system bouncing back - 2017 = 82%

Question 7

what is the evidence for and against a decline in 2-party dominance
- centrist

Answer 7

• two main parties could be seen as centrist by the public with little differences - voters will look elsewhere for more ideological parties with stronger views such as reform or UKIP
• Corbyn = ideologically very different to may

Question 8

what is the evidence for and against a decline in 2-party dominance
- smaller parties

Answer 8

• smaller parties = more support of core voters around issues - SNP =independence, UKIP = Brexit
• support collapses after the issue is resolved, based on short term emotions - UKIP collapsed and lost support after BREXIT

Question 9

what is the evidence for and against a decline in 2-party dominance
- FPTP and smaller parties

Answer 9

• elsewhere in the UK, smaller parties do better —> SP = AMS, NI = STV
• FPTP encourages two party dominance at Westminster which is crucial to keeping it sovereign and in charge of the devolved powers

Question 10

what are valance issues

Answer 10

• voters tend to vote based in how well they think the government can rule