Higher Essay Voting Behaviour

Evaluate the range of factors which can influence voting behaviour Discuss. 20 marks Answers should feature developed, exemplified knowledge and understanding of: The factors affecting voting behaviour. The relative importance of different factors affecting voting behaviour. And Balance comment/analysis on the view that some of the factors affecting voting behaviour are more important than others.

Answers may refer to: A range of factors are said to affect voting behaviour including: Media. Social class. Age. Gender. Geography. Ethnicity. Image of party leader. Issues. Rational choice. Party Affiliation. Click on Pictures for clips 

Tactical voting. Dealignment. Third party choices. Non-voting. Evidence of voting patterns from 2015 UK General Election (or other Elections ie 2014 referendum). Discussion of relative importance of different factors e.g. importance of Iraq War in relation to Muslim vote 2005, emphasis placed on successful media campaign by political parties, impact of “economic crisis/recession”-rational choice etc.

Credit highly candidate who integrate factors. For example, social class and media can be seen as separate factors but they are related. Professional class voters may cross different newspapers, television and websites from lower class voters and are therefore, exposed to a different set of media influences.

Models of voting behaviour including social structures model and rational choice model. Debate as to extent to which rational choice model has taken social structures model. Some argue that absolute class voting and relative class voting have steadily declined and that “issue voting” has become more important. Others argue that although class voting has declined it remains the most important underlying factors affecting voting behaviour.

Paragraph 1 1. Introduction Keep the introduction brief and precise. In the UK today, many people believe that traditional factors, such as Social Class and Age dominate when looking at the influences on voting behaviour. However, others believe that 21st century factors, such as the media, leadership and issues, have a greater impact on the electorate. The following essay will examine a variety of factors which influence the way in which people vote, in an attempt to determine whether some factors are more important than others.

Paragraph 2 In this paragraph deal with Age (or whatever factor you choose from the list of long term factors). Discuss the impact that Age can have on influencing the way in which people vote (Point) Explain the point made Use Evidence to support the point e.g. Again, 2015 UK General Election Results 2016 Scottish Parliament Election Results 2014 Scottish Referendum 2016 EU Referendum Explain why age is important and how other factors play a part in its influence Mini conclusion here with regards to level of influence.

Paragraph 3 In this paragraph deal with Media (or whatever factor you choose from the list of short term factors). Discuss the impact that Media can have on influencing the way in which people vote (Point) Explain the point made Use Evidence to support the point e.g. Again, 2015 UK General Election Results 2016 Scottish Parliament Election Results 2014 Scottish Referendum 2016 EU Referendum Explain why age is important and how other factors play a part in its influence Mini conclusion here with regards to level of influence.

Paragraph 4 In this paragraph deal with Leadership (or whatever factor you choose from the list of short term factors). Discuss the impact that Leadership can have on influencing the way in which people vote (Point) Explain the point made Use Evidence to support the point e.g. Again, 2015 UK General Election Results 2016 Scottish Parliament Election Results 2014 Scottish Referendum 2016 EU Referendum Explain why age is important and how other factors play a part in its influence Mini conclusion here with regards to level of influence.

Paragraph 5 In this paragraph deal with Issues (or whatever factor you choose from the list of short term factors). Discuss the impact that Issues can have on influencing the way in which people vote (Point) Explain the point made Use Evidence to support the point e.g. Again, 2015 UK General Election Results 2016 Scottish Parliament Election Results 2014 Scottish Referendum 2016 EU Referendum Explain why age is important and how other factors play a part in its influence Mini conclusion here with regards to level of influence.

Paragraph 7 In this paragraph sum up the points made. You must determine if one factor is more important than the others OR Traditional more/less important than Modern All can have an impact, equally important, none are any more important than the rest