The Chief Electoral Office has just released results from a post election survey they commissioned. The section I found interesting is below;
Non-voters
The majority of non-voters had considered voting in the election at some point during the campaign, with most waiting until Election Day before deciding not to vote. Nearly two-thirds of non-voters (66%) had considered voting in the 2005 election, with this percentage being higher for both Māori non-voters (72%), and youth non-voters (77%).
The majority of voters (53%) waited until election day before deciding not to vote; this is an increase from 44 percent in 2002. Around two-fifths of non-voters (41%) put a lot of thought into deciding whether or not to vote.
Non-voters gave a variety of reasons as to why they did not vote. One-quarter of non-voters (25%) said that their main reason was that they ‘couldn’t be bothered with politics or politicians’.
When presented with a list of reasons for not voting, the three factors rated as having the greatest influence (the combined results of those that rated the factor as having ‘a lot’ and ‘a little’ amount of influence) for non-voters overall were:
It makes no different to my life who wins the election (35%)
I don’t trust politicians (34%)
I’m just not interested in politics (33%)
The three factors rated as having the least influence (‘not at all’ and ‘not really’ combined) for non-voters overall were:
I haven’t voted in the past so why start now (70%)
It was obvious who would win so why bother (63%)
I couldn’t see a difference between the parties’ policies (54%).
Ironically 47 percent of non-voters still followed the results on election night. I wonder how many of them have been moaning about the outcome ever since?
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4 comments:
I suppose we can be thankful that they did not vote against reasoned voters.
They would have probably followed the 'bread and circuses vote', should they have gotten out of bed
I might do a piece on Democray tommorrow...
Look forward to it.
We should make it harder for people to vote - not easier. Those not highly motivated should be discouraged. Not prevented, you understand...
I mean if an inconsequential inconvenience like rain keeps them home, let's do a rain dance.
Yes, an ignorant potential voter is a danger and is better left alone.A motivated voter has at least thought about things...I would hope.I suspect that if the non voters were to vote it would be for Left leaning parties so its probably just as well they don't!
I have long disagreed with the policy of trying to persuade everyone to vote. (Note: not with the right for everyone to vote!). All those ads leading up to an election should NOT be emphasising how easy it is to vote - but emphasising how important it is for people to actually think about who they want to vote for and why.
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