Voting Behaviour

Question 1

Why do parties run campaigns?

Answer 1

Pinch votes from other parties.
Persuade the voting voter.
Get your core voter out.

Question 2

For campaigns importance:

Answer 2

Neil kinnock vs John major- 1992
2015- cons employed Linton Crosby and spent £100,000 on social media.
Alistair Campbell- new labour
“Things can only get better”

Question 3

Long term factors importance:

Answer 3

Identification and class
Gender 
Age 
Ethnicity 
Past performance

Question 4

Partisan dealignment

Answer 4

When an electorate abandons the party that previously has been attached or loyal to. - Clarke et al suggests influence is decreasing- Cons 1964- 45%
1979- 21%
2001- 13%

Question 5

What did Pulzer say?

Answer 5

Class is the basis of British politics; all else is embellishment and detail -1967

Question 6

How has the working class experienced class dealignment?

Answer 6

Embourgeoisement. During the thatcher era - right to buy

Decade of dealignment (1983) Crewe

Question 7

What is rational choice based on?

Answer 7

Rational choice decisions
Manifesto reviewed
Self interest
Leader image

Question 8

Example of bad leader image

Answer 8

Michael foot (1983)
Scruffy- not well presented 
Bad first impressions
Old
Donkey jacket- breakfast down shirt

Question 9

What is the study of voting behaviour

Answer 9

Psephology

Question 10

Dominant ideology theory?

Answer 10

Dunleavy and husbands- 1985

Question 11

What did sanders say?

Answer 11

1996 - economy is the key issue, in particular how it affects the voter

Question 12

Examples of headlines?

Answer 12

Kinnock light bulb- 1992
It’s the sun wot won it

Sun backs Blair- 1997

It’s a Tory- 2015

Question 13

What is a floating voter?

Answer 13

Electorate with no political allegiance, will vote for all parties

Question 14

Short term issues?

Answer 14

Events leading up to election
Party image
Leaders debate

Question 15

What is the opposite of a safe seat?

Answer 15

Marginal constituency.

Question 16

Two contrasting leaders debate?

Answer 16

2010- Cleggmania

2015- Miliband fell off stage

Question 17

Rational choice?

Answer 17

Past performance
Policies- manifesto reviewed
Self interest
Valence issues

Question 18

Evidence for importance of Valance issues?

Answer 18

“It’s the economy stupid”
“Educationx3”
“NHSx3”
Sanders 1996- Low interest rate and inflation - Gordon brown quote

Question 19

Describe post war voting?

Answer 19

1945-70
People remained loyal
Elections won and lost by floating voters in marginals
Swing was uniform across the UK

Question 20

Geographic proof of class being important?

Answer 20

North South divide

Counter urbanisation eroded labour support

Question 21

Proof for leader image important?

Answer 21

Kinnock vs Major
Foot vs Thatcher
DC “heir to Blair”

Question 22

Campaigns not important

Answer 22

1987

we won the campaign 10-nill and lost the election 11-nill- Roy hattersley

Question 23

Tory campaign 2015

Answer 23

Lynton Crosby 
Targeted lib dem seats 
Micro targeted women in 30-40's 
Used SNP as a wedge tactic 
100,000 a month on social media 
Got rid of Gove - politically toxic

Question 24

Labour poor campaign

Answer 24

Edstone mocked by media
Fell of stage at leaders debate
Bacon sandwich
35% strategy a failure

Question 25

Affect of opinion polls?

Answer 25

Started 1938 Bandwagon affect Boomerang affect

Question 26

Different media theories?

Answer 26

Hypodermic needle theory - people accept what they are told Reinforcement theory - people have pre-held views and only expose themselves to the media they agree with

Question 27

Points for by-elections

Answer 27

``` Unpredictable Bloody nose John major- lost 26 consecutive Weather vane Between 2010 and 2015 lib den lost deposit 7 times ```

Question 28

Local election points?

Answer 28

Low turnout- less than 29% in 1998 | FPTP encourages low turnout

Question 29

Devolved election points?

Answer 29

Turnout lower than general but higher than Westminster AMS system used- smaller parties gain seats, less tactical voting Nationalism parties do well

Question 30

Tory and the elderly?

Answer 30

"Senescent conservatism" butler and stokes 1960

Question 31

Labour and the young?

Answer 31

1997- Labour won all age categories bar 65+ | 2015- only 18-24 and 24-35 - both low turnout

Question 32

Ethnicity and voting behaviour?

Answer 32

Sagar 2000- 1997 review 89% black vote labour 81% Asian vote labour

Question 33

Further proof of dominant ideology?

Answer 33

"Rupert Murdoch is effectively a member of blairs cabinet" Lance price

Question 34

Who came up with rational choice?

Answer 34

Heimmelwiet et al

Question 35

Class in the 2015 general election?

Answer 35

C2 vote not won back by labour equal on 32% | Rise of UKIP in Labour heartlands

Question 36

Partisan dealignment in 2015?

Answer 36

Floating voters- 20% undecided on Election Day Labour lost 28% to all parties gained some back to churn Loss of lib dem heartland Rise of SNP

Question 37

Dominant ideology in 2015 election?

Answer 37

Cameron refuses 3 way leader debate "It's a Tory" and wedge tactic Miliband monstered

Question 38

Rational choice in 2015?

Answer 38

Tori seen as more economically competent following- Byrne " there's no money left" NHS x3 Referendum promised on EU