Evaluate the extent to which social factors determine voting behaviour.
Introduction
Define- Social factors that determine voting behaviour are gender, class, age, ethnicity, region and many
more. Traditionally social factors had huge impact on the voting behaviour, but with the surge in the use
of media, social factors do not have that great of an impact.
Discuss- The general election of 1979 and 1997 will account the voting behaviour with the traditional
social factors but with the 2017 general election, factors of social media, T.V broadcasting is seen to
have a larger impact on voting behaviour than social factors.
Direct- Indeed, social factors largely impact voting behaviour from the evidence of past general elections
but recently other factors such as media have enhanced social factors to determine the voting
behaviour.
Para 1
Point- Firstly, age is a social factor that has huge impact on the voting behaviour. From the general
elections throughout the years, we could conclude that young people are more likely to vote for Labour,
while older generation are more likely to vote for Conservative, supporting the view that “the older you
get, the more conservative you get”.
Evidence- This is evident in the 2017 general election where 43% of 18-24 voted Labour and 47% of over
65’s voted Conservative. This may be due to voters voting on issue-based decision, such as the Labour
manifesto begin best suited to the younger generation, with them trying to abolish university fees, a
huge incentive for the younger generation to support Labour. Similarly, Conservatives attract older
voters as they are enticed to the traditional views that Conservatives upholds in their manifesto.
Analysis- The social factor, age is further enhanced by the current social media as majority of the young
people use these media platforms, the leader of the Labour party, Jeremy Corbyn seems to be most
active in the social media which might have resulted in the surge of support especially within the
younger generation for the Labour party, during the 2017 general election.
Counter-point- However, the turnout for the younger 18-24's are lower, suggesting age as a social factor
may not have much impact on the voting behaviour. Also, it is suggested that rational choice theory has
differed overtime, implying rather than the influence of age, people have begun to vote on valance, they
have voted for minority parties, evident in the EU election 2019 with the popularity of Brexit party and
Liberal Democrats.
Evaluate- Hence suggesting age as a social factor might not have much relevance nowadays, media may
further enhance the social factor, age but there are other factors that have greater impact on the voting
behaviour.
Para 2
Point- Moreover, class as a social factor has great impact on the voting behaviour as middle class (A, B,
C) traditionally vote for Conservative but majority of working class (C2, D, E) vote for Labour.
Evidence- This was evident in the 1997 and 2017 general election where in 1997 50% of C2s and 59% of
DEs voted Labour, compared with 27% and 21% respectively for the Tories. But many argue, this has
been challenged in the current election, due to class dealignment, where people do not identify
themselves to a certain class.
Analysis- Also, the 1997 general election where Labour won by a large majority and gaining 50% of
working class can be the result of the problems during that time or due to the involvement of
newspaper. During the election the Sun supported the Labour party stating “the Sun backs Blair” after
20 years of supporting Conservative which may have impacted on the victory.
Introduction
Define- Social factors that determine voting behaviour are gender, class, age, ethnicity, region and many
more. Traditionally social factors had huge impact on the voting behaviour, but with the surge in the use
of media, social factors do not have that great of an impact.
Discuss- The general election of 1979 and 1997 will account the voting behaviour with the traditional
social factors but with the 2017 general election, factors of social media, T.V broadcasting is seen to
have a larger impact on voting behaviour than social factors.
Direct- Indeed, social factors largely impact voting behaviour from the evidence of past general elections
but recently other factors such as media have enhanced social factors to determine the voting
behaviour.
Para 1
Point- Firstly, age is a social factor that has huge impact on the voting behaviour. From the general
elections throughout the years, we could conclude that young people are more likely to vote for Labour,
while older generation are more likely to vote for Conservative, supporting the view that “the older you
get, the more conservative you get”.
Evidence- This is evident in the 2017 general election where 43% of 18-24 voted Labour and 47% of over
65’s voted Conservative. This may be due to voters voting on issue-based decision, such as the Labour
manifesto begin best suited to the younger generation, with them trying to abolish university fees, a
huge incentive for the younger generation to support Labour. Similarly, Conservatives attract older
voters as they are enticed to the traditional views that Conservatives upholds in their manifesto.
Analysis- The social factor, age is further enhanced by the current social media as majority of the young
people use these media platforms, the leader of the Labour party, Jeremy Corbyn seems to be most
active in the social media which might have resulted in the surge of support especially within the
younger generation for the Labour party, during the 2017 general election.
Counter-point- However, the turnout for the younger 18-24's are lower, suggesting age as a social factor
may not have much impact on the voting behaviour. Also, it is suggested that rational choice theory has
differed overtime, implying rather than the influence of age, people have begun to vote on valance, they
have voted for minority parties, evident in the EU election 2019 with the popularity of Brexit party and
Liberal Democrats.
Evaluate- Hence suggesting age as a social factor might not have much relevance nowadays, media may
further enhance the social factor, age but there are other factors that have greater impact on the voting
behaviour.
Para 2
Point- Moreover, class as a social factor has great impact on the voting behaviour as middle class (A, B,
C) traditionally vote for Conservative but majority of working class (C2, D, E) vote for Labour.
Evidence- This was evident in the 1997 and 2017 general election where in 1997 50% of C2s and 59% of
DEs voted Labour, compared with 27% and 21% respectively for the Tories. But many argue, this has
been challenged in the current election, due to class dealignment, where people do not identify
themselves to a certain class.
Analysis- Also, the 1997 general election where Labour won by a large majority and gaining 50% of
working class can be the result of the problems during that time or due to the involvement of
newspaper. During the election the Sun supported the Labour party stating “the Sun backs Blair” after
20 years of supporting Conservative which may have impacted on the victory.
