Cambridge
Voting Behaviour Survey (summary)
Jim Jepps
This report represents the findings of independent research on voting
behaviour in the local elections on the 4th May 2006. The primary
data was collected on Mill Road, in the Romsey Ward of Cambridge.
The aim of this investigation is two fold. Firstly to gain more detailed
information about how people use their vote and secondly to grapple with why
non-voters did not vote.
Whilst, by necessity, the sample size was relatively small (256 respondents)
it is large enough for us draw tentative conclusions. There are a number of
indicators from this study to suggest the following:-
-
The electoral role does not adequately reflect those of voting age who live
in the area.
-
Labour voters are less willing to admit who they vote for than voters of
other parties.
-
Green and Respect voters appear to be far more proud of their affiliation.
-
Voters appear to be split into establishment and non-establishment spheres
-
Conservative and Green voters are the most loyal, or tribal, in their voting
habits and the least likely to vote if their party had not stood in the
election.
-
Those who voted for Respect are the most likely to have voted even if their
party had not stood.
-
This means that the Greens or Conservatives had most influence over voter
turnout, and Respect the least.
-
Significant numbers of people of voting age are legally unable to vote.
-
Many people did not know that an election is taking place.
-
A large group of people know there are elections on but consciously decide
not to vote.
-
Only Green voters feel any strong affinity with Respect in this ward.
-
Respect appears to be the ‘marmite option’ in that voters either love it or
hate it.
-
There was a significant number of people who did not vote Tory but would
consider it, quite possibly on tactical considerations in a ward where the
Conservatives were never going to win.
-
Voters of all parties find the Lib Dems the least offensive alternative
option.
-
There are strong indications that if Respect and the Greens had stood one
candidate each in the two vote ward the Respect vote would have increased 89
votes or more and the Green vote increased 98 votes or more bringing them
close to beating a Labour candidate.
Read the entire document (html)
(full report
word doc) (main part of study
word doc)
(appendix, word doc)
May 2006
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