1. Voting Behaviour essay plans Peer marking

2. To what extent is the social structures model the best way of explaining why people vote the way they do? Yes it is Class – still a big factor in determining voting behaviour. E.g. evidence of how different social classes vote ABCD. Region – north/south divide e.g. Conservative/Labour/Lib Dem areas of strength. Religion/Ethnicity/Gender – add examples. No it isn’t Rational choice – decisions made on policies and which party will do the best job e.g. Conservatives best placed to sort out economy (2010)? Voting context – due to FPTP system, people vote according to the constituency they live in. Tactical voting. Dominant ideology – impact of establishment view. Impact of mass media on voting behaviour e.g. tv debates, twitter/facebook, newspapers etc. AO1: Show knowledge of social structures model, rational choice, voting context, dominant ideology, party identification

3. Discuss the view that declining turnout is the most important trend in voting behaviour Yes it is Recent turnout in Westminster elections. Turnout in non-Westminster elections. Important - Lack of trust in politicians? Important -Voting system impact? Important – impact on democracy? No it isn’t These factors are more important trends Increase in floating voters. Partisan dealignment Class dealignment Rise of mass media Rise of importance of party leader Tactical voting AO1: Show knowledge of recent trends in voting behaviour e.g. low turnout in Westminster and non-Westminster elections, partisan dealignment, class dealignment, decline in support for 2 major parties, increased voter volatility, tactical and protest voting.

4. Discuss the view that the election campaign has little impact on the way that people vote. Little impact Voting context – due to FPTP system, people vote according to the constituency they live in. Tactical voting Social structures model. Region – north/south divide e.g. Conservative/Labour/Lib Dem areas of strength. Religion/Ethnicity/Gender – add examples. Party identification model Strapline or campaign doesn’t strike a chord e.g. Big Society. Did this make people vote Conservative? Big impact Rational choice – decisions made on policies and which party will do the best job so an effective campaign will communicate this. E.g. Dominant ideology – impact of establishment view. Impact of mass media on voting behaviour e.g. tv debates, twitter/facebook, newspapers etc. Agenda setting – party campaigns. Poor image if party leaders make a mistake. AO1: Show knowledge of social structures model, rational choice, voting context, dominant ideology, party identification and election campaigns (both means /reach and how successful).

5. Discuss the view that it is party policies that influence the way people vote Yes it is Rational choice – influence of party policy on how people vote (rationality, self-interest). Wider knowledge of party policies through mass media. No it isn’t Electorate have lesser knowledge of policies. Less difference between parties (valence issues) so making decision on competency, party image, leader. Voting context – due to FPTP system, people vote according to the constituency they live in. Tactical voting Social structures, class and partisanship. AO1: Show knowledge of factors (long and short), models: social structures model, rational choice, voting context, dominant ideology, party identification and trends in voting behaviour.

6. Discuss the importance of party leaders in influencing the result at general elections (Discuss the view that it is the party leader that is the most important factor influencing voter behaviour) Yes it is Increased media focus on image and personality. E.g … Lack of difference between party policies leads to voters assessing relative competence of leaders (valence issues) Leaders’ impact e.g. shaping campaign. So 2001: Blair, Hague, Kennedy. 2005: Blair, Howard and Kennedy. 2010: Brown, Cameron, Clegg. No it isn’t Rational choice – decisions made on policies and which party will do the best job e.g Voting context – due to FPTP system, people vote according to the constituency they live in. Tactical voting. Dominant ideology – impact of establishment view. Impact of mass media on voting behaviour e.g. tv debates, twitter/facebook, newspapers etc. Party identification AO1: Show knowledge of long and short term factors and voting models.

7. To what extent is the rational choice model the best way of explaining how people vote? Yes it is Rational choice – influence of party policy on how people vote (rationality, self-interest). Wider knowledge of party policies through mass media. No it isn’t Electorate have lesser knowledge of policies. Less difference between parties (valence issues) so making decision on competency, party image, leader. Voting context – due to FPTP system, people vote according to the constituency they live in. Tactical voting Social structures, class and partisanship. AO1: Show knowledge of social structures model, rational choice, voting context, dominant ideology, party identification