Democracy and Voting Behaviour

Question 1

What are some general statements we could make about voting behaviour?

Answer 1

It is complex and has many different dimensions. Many argue social class is the most important factor, however in more recent years modern voters are more increasingly influenced by the media, which gives the party more publicity and gives their place more prominence

Question 2

Name 5 factors which influence voting behaviour?

Answer 2

Social class 
The scale of class dealignment 
The impact of the media
The effect of 'age and stage'
Short term factors

Question 3

(Social class) what did Peter Pulzer famously say? And when did he say it?

Answer 3

In 1967 Peter Pulzer famously said “class is the basis of British Party Politics, all else is embellishment and detail”

To an extent this is still true today

Question 4

(Social class) What are the traditional voting patterns?

Answer 4

Middle and higher class voters tend to vote conservative and working class tend to vote for labour, and in Scotland now SNP

Question 5

(Social class) Do these old voting patterns still stand today?

Answer 5

Yes, with around 2 thirds of working class voters voting for the Labour Party

Question 6

(Social class) what can we say about this as an influential factor overall?

Answer 6

Although some people may try to hide their class, and change positions in the scale, we cannot change our upbringing so class will have a heavy influence on voters, subconsciously or otherwise.

Social class is unavoidable and evident today even in modern Britain

Question 7

(Voting dealignment) what has happened in recent years?

Answer 7

There is common agreement that the UK has experienced some degree of voting de alignment. In more recent years people from all classes are breaking away from their ‘traditional’ vote

Question 8

(Voting dealignment) what is happening now?

Answer 8

It is not always true that higher class voters will always vote conservative, people are now voting more based on other factors in their lives, not explicitly by class.

It may be true that certain working class people may agree more on Conservative party policy than SNP or Labour and so will break away and vote for them instead.

Question 9

(Voting dealignment) what can we say about this as an influential factor overall?

Answer 9

Overall voting dealignment plays a part in voting behaviour however not to a great extent.

Many voters are loyal to one party and tend to vote for them all their lives, which is usually dictated by class. (With the exception of Labour in Scotland)

Question 10

(The media) Are newspapers biased?

Answer 10

Yes, newspapers are notoriously biased towards certain parties, for example the Daily Record supports Labour and the Telegraph supports Conservative

Question 11

(The media) are newspapers influential towards voting behaviour?

Answer 11

To an extend the newspapers we buy can influence our political views

Newspapers set the political agenda by choosing what to cover

The owners of newspaper and TV companies can be key to winning elections

Question 12

(The media) is the media more influential now than it previously was?

Answer 12

Although there media has always influenced our voting, the intensity and variety of coverage has never been greater, with information available at the click of a button

Question 13

(The media) what percentage of people watch TV at least once a week?

Answer 13

96%

Question 14

(The media) do people trust TV?

Answer 14

TV is regulated and trusted, therefore people believe what they see and hear

Question 15

(The media) what percentage of adults claim TV is their main source of political information?

Answer 15

51%

Question 16

(The media) Does the internet influence voting behaviour?

Answer 16

The internet is the fastest growing media form and certainly has a part to play in influencing voters