High voter turnout likely on Saturday

Press, 26 November 1981, Page 1

High voter turnout likely on Saturday

A high turnout of voters in Christchurch is likely on Saturday for the General Election if the results of a survey run by “The Press” during the last two days are a reliable indication.

Of 184 people surveyed, about 94 per cent said they intended to vote and 81 per cent said they had checked that their names were on the electoral rolls. “The Press" survey aimed to discover what motivated voters, and what formed their opinions. The result is not a statistical poll, nor is it meant to indicate what the result of the General Election might be. The people who’ were interviewed were not asked which way they would vote. By working through a set of questions, staff reporters were able to determine the way at least 184 Christchurch voters thought about the election. Of the 184. 94 were female. All were chosen at random in the last two days. A crosssection of areas of Christchurch were surveyed, including the central city area. New Brighton, Fendalton. Sydenham, and St Albans. The ages of those surveyed

were fairly evenly spread, and several first-time voters were included. The biggest age-group comprised men and women between 26 and 40.

The most significant finding of the survey’ was the high number who intended to vote. Most people saw’ unemployment as the biggest issue. Economic issues ranked second.

The average turnout at the 1978 General Election was 87.5 per cent, after adjustment for the inaccuracies in the rolls. This ranged from a 94 per cent turnout in “high interest" electorates, such as Lyttelton, to 77 per cent in Auckland Central, said a Christcnurch political scientist. Mr Alan Mcßobie.

In spite of the survey’s findings, Mr Mcßobie expects the turnout this year to be lower than in 1978. He said that some voters. National Party supporters in particular, might stay away from the polls as a form of protest.

Of the people who did not intend to vote, most said the reason was because they were not interested, or that they did not believe in the political’ system. Almost 'all of those who

said they would not vote were males aged between 18 and 25. Only one woman said she would 'not vote. Several women said they would vote the way their husbands did. Two-'thirds of the sample said that they had decided which way to vote before the election campaign started earlier this month. Few’ had made much attempt to take an active part in the campaign. Only 20 per cent had attended a campaign meeting, although almost 80 per cent had compared the policies of different parties.

Asked where they had got their information, most people mentioned television and newspapers. Half as many mentioned radio as their sources of information. Pamphlets and manifestoes ranked lowest. Slightly more men than women said they had been influenced by the party leaders in deciding how to vote. In total, 51 per cent, of whom 57 per cent were men.

said they had been influenced by the personalities of the leaders. Most of those surveyed said they usually voted for a party rather than a candidate or leader. Almost 70 per cent said they voted for the party. 20 per cent for the candidate, and 10 per cent for the party leader. Most saw- unemployment and economic issues as the biggest election issues. A total of 44 per cent listed unemployment as the main issue, but’ more women than men saw it as a problem. More than half the women surveyed said unemployment was the biggest issue, and 36 per cent of the men agreed. More men than women saw economic problems, including taxation and inflation. as the main issue. Almost half the men questioned • listed economic issues as the biggest problem, but only a quarter of the women mentioned economic issues.

Taxation was given as the biggest issue by 8 per cent of the men and 5 per cent of the women; inflation was given by 5 per cent of the men and 6 per cent of the women; housing was mentioned by 5 per cent of the women, but was mentioned by only one man.

Other issues which were mentioned included industrial relations, law and order, honesty, energy, growth strategy, and the future.

Of the first-time voters who were surveyed, most saw unemployment and the economy as the biggest issues. They also mentioned housing, education, honesty in politics, and defence.

Half the first-time voters said they had been influenced by the party leaders, but most said they would still vote according to the party.

Almost half of all those surveyed believed that the liquor poll at the General Election should be continued. Slightly more than half the women wanted to see the poll continued, and 43 per cent of the men supported the poll.