Political Participation

You can be involved with Politics through any of the following:-

Standing for election

Joining a political party and attending meetings

Protesting

Campaigning and writing letters

And not least – BY VOTING IN AN ELECTION

Voting Behaviour

This area fascinates political sociologists because they have to study the voting behaviour of the British people. The number of people voting in an election is called the turnout.

Voting types

Loyal Floating Tactical

Non Voters

Are apathetic and / or Uneducated in the issues and / or Dislike all the candidates.

Attitudes of groups is important – the following will affect voting behaviour.

Class Gender Age Ethnicity Region Religion

Class

Labour has traditionally been supported by the working class.

Changes in society over the last 25 years have changed this.

Likewise the traditional support that the Conservatives had from the middle classes can no longer be relied upon.

Gender

More women than men vote in elections. They are more likely to vote Conservative.

Age

Young people are less likely to vote but when the do they are more likely to vote Labour.

Older people are more likely to vote and usually for the Conservatives.

Why are these two age groups likely to vote in this way?

Ethnicity

Minority groups are less likely to vote. When they do they tend to vote for Labour.

Regions

Conservatives strong in Southern England Just one Conservative MP in Scotland Lib Democrats strong in the Southwest of

England. Nationalists in Wales and Scotland challenge

Labour for voters.

Religion

Not an issue in England and Wales. In Northern Ireland Catholic Christians and

Protestant Christians tend to vote for parties that are aligned with each denomination.

Other factors

Policies – e.g. Europe Party image – e.g. sleaze Leaders – positive or negative images Parental socialization & guidance with

discussions at home The mass media – newspapers and TV

stations will choose the stories that are heard.

Your turn…

What is the voting behaviour of your family? Why do you think that some people do not

vote? Should they be made to? Would 16 year olds be able to cope with

choosing a political party to vote for? How will you choose the political party

which you will vote for in two years time?