Voting Behaviour Flashcards
What 11 factors affect voting behaviour?
- Social Class
- Gender
- Ethnicity
- Region
- Age
- Electoral Campaigns
- Government track record
- Issues voting
- Economic performance
- Valence issues
- The Media
To what extent do Social Class and Gender Affect voting behaviour?
Social Class:
- 50s and 60s was most important due to class interests and class alignment (candidate resembled their own social position)
- Less important though more working class people vote Labour and upper class conservative
Gender:
- traditionally women voted more conservative potentially due to religion or family values
- However now more women voted labour than conservative, due to Labour being more socially left wing
To what extent do ethnicity, region and age determine voting behaviour?
Ethnicity:
- Black and Asian voters vote Labour, likely due to Labours more positive attitude towards immigration and being more socially left
- However a significant number of Asian Muslims defected to LibDems in order to protest Iraq war
Region:
- Labour traditionally attracts Urban areas and the North of England
- Conservative have attracted to rural areas and the SE
Age:
- Older voters vote more and older people vote more conservative and younger people vote more Labour
To wh
How do electoral campaigns and Government track record affect voting behaviour?
Campaigns:
- Evidence from opinion polls suggests have little impact on electorate
- voting support typically alter by only 0-2%
- However if they do not campaign may have negative affect as they look lazy
- LibDems support typically increases by 3-4%
Track Record:
- opposition does not win elections, government loses them
What is one example of and / reasons for low turnout?
- 84% in 1950 and 59% in 2001
- Apathy (no interest)
- Marginalised voters think voices don’t count
- Foregone conclusion
- Unimportant elections (local, regional etc)
What are 2 ways of voting that are atypical?
Protest voting:
- disillusioned voters vote for a thirds party e.g Iraq war shift to LibDems
Tactical Voting:
- In 1997 Lab and Lib Dem voters just voted for candidate most likely to defeat the conservative candidate
To what extent is issue voting and voting by economic performance relevant?
Issues Voting:
- mid 1960s partisan dealignment occurred and voting became more related to ideology and attitudes
Economic Performance:
- initially benefited the conservatives were seen as being sound on the economy
- unemployment and inflation in 80s made economy proiority for voters
To what extent are valance issues and issue voting relevant?
Valance Issues:
- choose a party that projects an image that they feel most closely resembles their own outlook
- e.g media, slogans, imagery - televised debates (worked for Blair)
Issue voting:
- COVID, Brexit, NHS, Climate crisis, cost of living crisis
