CSEC Government

1. Prepared by: S. Biggs 1 | P a g e
Humanities Department- Mount Saint Joseph Catholic High
Department: Humanities
Subject: Social Studies
Topic: Government
Date: March 25th
, 2019
Topic: Factors that Influence Election Outcomes and Voter Participation
Objectives
 Outline the factors that influence the outcomes of elections
 Describe the factors that influence voter participation in an election
Political candidates and parties are not the only sources of influence on the electorate and, therefore, on an election
outcome. For example, politicians might make use of the media but the media is also able to express opinions of its own
about political parties and about individual candidates and ministers.
1. Campaign Strategies
When the prime minister or president calls an election they must give between three and six weeks' notice. Formal
campaigning takes place during this time but it is likely that informal campaigning will have already begun as people
anticipated the calling of the election. A campaign strategy might involve rallies, other public meetings and use of
the media. All of these are intended to bring as much exposure for a candidate or party and to provide as many
opportunities as possible for candidates to meet with the electorate. Candidates can also:
 visit individual homes in their constituency
 write articles for newspapers
 use blogs and social networking sites on the Internet
 attend 'hustings' where they take part
2. Campaign Advertising
Campaign advertising in the media presents a positive image of the candidate or party that has paid for it,
highlighting the successes achieved and the promises being made. The electorate are encouraged to see a person or
party as trustworthy, effective and efficient. There can also be 'negative advertising' which seeks to present an
opponent or opposing party in a bad light, showing up their failures and broken promises, and seeking to portray
them as untrustworthy and not worthy of a vote. An extreme form of negative campaigning is a 'smear campaign' in
which efforts are made to undermine an individual's or a party's reputation or credibility.
3. Campaign Spending
The amount of money spent on a campaign can be an important part of determining its success. As stated earlier,
rules exist to limit the amount of spending on a campaign and to limit any advantages or disadvantages to
candidates based on their level of campaign funding.
4. The media
Political candidates and parties seek to use the media to get their message across to the electorate. The media may
help the electorate to form an opinion regarding the validity of the claims from the various parties. It also has an
investigative role through which it would uncover and expose any wrongdoing on the part of a political party or an
individual candidate in regard to the way in which he or she has acted during their campaign or in any other aspect
of his or her life. Such revelations should only be made ‘in the public interest’, in other words they must be relevant
to an individual’s or a party’s suitability to be in government or to hold a position of power.
5. Voter attitude to government
'Party loyalty' plays a large part in the way many people vote. If an existing government reflects the political
ideologies and views of a voter then it is likely to receive that individual's vote. This will be true even if the
government has not been particularly successful. The voter's commitment to the political ideology means that they
will continue to align themselves with and vote for the party that reflects that ideology. Equally, voter who disagrees
with the political ideology of a government is still likely to vote against them even if they have become reasonably
successful in addressing the needs of the country through their policies.
Party loyalty within a constituency can be particularly significant. Constituencies in which a majority of the
electorate is known to vote for a particular party are referred to as 'safe seats'. Constituencies in which this situation
is not the case are known as 'marginal seats'. Marginal constituencies are fought hard over because the chances of
the existing candidate losing the seat are higher.
A good deal of attention is also given to floating voters. These are people who do not have a particular political
allegiance and are not committed to voting for a specific party and might therefore be persuaded to vote in a
particular way.

2. Prepared by: S. Biggs 2 | P a g e
Humanities Department- Mount Saint Joseph Catholic High
6. Voter turnout
Great efforts are made by political parties and candidates to encourage their supporters to actually vote. The party
that is most successful at convincing people not only that it has the right message but to also actually vote is the
party that wins.
What Influences Voter Participation in Elections?
Some voters need to be convinced to vote in a particular way while others need to be convinced of the value of voting at
all. It is difficult to identify, with a high degree of certainty, why people decide to participate in elections but suggested
reasons include:
 a sense of social obligation
 showing support for a candidate or political party
 affirming the political election process itself
 feeling that casting a vote actually means participation in decision-making
Among those already identified, some additional factors that may influence voters’ participation are:
1. Voter attitude to government
A person's attitude towards the government can influence the decision about whether or not to vote. If voters are
happy with a government they may not feel the need to vote despite the fact that if they don't then the government
be replaced. If the voters are unhappy with the government they may be more likely to vote in the hope of seeing
that government removed.
2. Voter apathy
Levels of voter participation can indicate how the democratic political process is viewed. A high turnout is often
taken to be a sign of a high degree of trust in the system and in its ability to deliver government ‘of the people for
the people’. It suggests a general feeling that voting does actually affect the nature of the government. A low
turnout is generally indicates the opposite. In these circumstances it is assumed that the voter does not feel his or
her vote actually makes a difference.
3. Education
Research suggests that education is the single most important socio-economic factor in determining whether or not
a person is likely to vote. The more educated a person is the more likely it seems that he or she will vote. There is
also an increasing understanding that if people receive education about politics, government and how political
processes work, then they are more likely to use their vote.
4. Age
There is a belief that voting in an election is, to a degree, a function of socialization and habit. If a person has been
brought up to believe that voting is something that should be done as a matter of social duty and has begun voting
early then they will be likely to continue into older age. Those who are in the older age groups are possibly more
likely to have been brought up with such a view and to have developed this habit.
5. Income
In most Caribbean countries those on lower incomes are more likely to vote.