Subject: Social Studies Type of Lesson: Web-based, Discussion, Group Work

Grade: 10 CSEC OBJ: Describe the factors that influence

voter participation in elections
(Section A, # 20)

Term: 2 Unit Number #1 - Government

and Title:

Duration: 2 x 35 minutes Week Number: 4

Lesson Number # 15 Factors Influencing Voter

and Title: Turnout (2):
a. Voter Loyalty to Party
b. Education
c. Age
d. Income

Objectives
As a result of this lesson, the student will be able to:
1) identify voter loyalty, education, age and income as factors
influencing voter turnout on election day.
2) evaluate the impact of voter loyalty to political party on voter
turnout on election day.
3) assess the importance of education, age and income on voter
turnout.
4) interpret statistics related to voter turnout.
5) advocate for increased participation of young voters in elections.

Prerequisite Student Knowledge

The student should be familiar with:
1) the impact of voter turnout on the outcome of elections.
2) factors influencing the outcome of elections.

Important Points
1) As stated in the previous lesson, voter turnout refers to the actual
number of electors that vote on election day and is expressed as a
percentage of the total number of persons that are registered to
vote.

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 2) Voter loyalty to party, education age and income are all factors
influencing voter participation in elections.
3) The electorate is a diverse group young and old, rich and poor,
educated and street smart, die-hard and unattached. This diversity
causes uncertainty about election outcome and significantly affects
voter turnout.
4) Political analysts know that the electorate is not a homogenous
group, therefore, they seek to explain voter turnout by assessing
voting behavior.

Key Terms

Die-hard Supporter Voter Loyalty Voter Turnout

Challenge Areas
(To be done after you have completed this lesson)
1) Contact the education department of the Electoral Office and
request information on voter turnout in your country for both
general and Local Government elections.
2) Go to the Electoral Office that is located closest to you and find
out the process for getting enumerated. Ask for flyers or brochures
to share with the members of your community group. If no
flyers/brochures are available create your own.

Equipment/Materials Needed
Multimedia projector, screen, computers with internet connectivity

Note to Teacher
This lesson will examine the role of party loyalty to voter turnout. Be
reminded that political socialization is first shaped by the family;
therefore, students may already be persuaded as to political party
preference. It is important that you be prepared to deal with partisan
comments which may infiltrate the class discussions. It is unwise to
declare your political affiliations or sentiments; rather, try to keep
discussions balanced and unbiased using examples from both sides of
the political divide. Note that this lesson will utilize statistics as a
learning tool. You must be comfortable using these statistics as this
will enhance your interaction with your students. Have pictures and
cartoons printed and download videos where possible so that you have
a back-up in the event that internet connectivity is lost.

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Teachers Lesson Notes

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 Introduction
1) Introductory Activity

What Influences Electors? Discussion of Comic Sketch.

Notes
The terms voter
and elector may
be used
interchangeably.

Figure 15.1 Factors influencing voter turnout

a. Project the image above onto the screen. Discuss the

following question with the students:
i. What are the factors that influence electors to vote?
ii. Why do you think these factors are important?
iii. How do you think each of the factors identified in
the comic sketch impact on turnout on Election
Day?

b. Inform students that this lesson is a continuation of the

factors influencing voter turnout.

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Body of Lesson
1) How does Voter Loyalty to Political Party Impact Voter
Turnout on Election Day? Video presentation & Mind-
mapping.
Notes
A diehard a. Ask students: Have you ever heard of a diehard
supporter forms
the base of any supporter?
political party. b. What does diehard mean to you?
Each political party c. Load and play the Gleaner video Diehard Forever found
relies on loyalty of
the electorate at the website below>>
some of which are www.youtube.com/watch?v=ottGywET12g
classified as d. Instruct students to watch and listen carefully to the video
diehards.
content. Start the discussion by asking the following
questions:
i. What reasons are given by the interviewees as to
why they support each political party?
ii. Do you think the reasons given are valid?
iii. How important do you think diehard supporters are
for voter turnout?
e. Instruct students to use the answers to the questions above
to complete the mind-map in box 17.2 below.
f. Tell students to reflect on the video Diehard Forever then
instruct them to write a 200 word expose on the influence
of loyalty party to voter turnout.

Figure 15.2 Mind-map for Voter Loyalty

2) How does Level of Educational Achievement impact on Voter

Participation? Statistical Analysis.

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What do you
think?
Select, delete this
text and start typing
questions to the
student, tying in the
narrative to the right,
concerning factual
information or
attitude
Teacher Instructional Material
a. Project the pie chart below onto the screen. Ask students
what they understand from the information presented.
b. Be sure to emphasize that the information provided in the
pie chart represents the entire electorate and is not limited
to electors who actually voted on Election Day.
c. Instruct students to write no more than four statements
describing the data in the pie chart. You may lead the
activity by giving an opening statement e.g. The pie chart
depicts the educational levels of the electorate for Country
X
Figure 15.3 Pie chart showing Voter Education in
Country X
d. Next, ask students to share their descriptions with the class.
Engage students in discussion as necessary. Where students
have difficulty in expressing their understanding of the
information take the time to develop their comprehension
so as to increase their competence in statistical analysis.
e. Now project the image of the line graph below onto the
screen. This time, explain to students that this information
is for electors who turned out to vote on Election Day.
6
 Important Point

Reading graphs and

charts requires
special attention to
detail. Encourage
students to examine
the graphs and
charts carefully.

Figure 15.4 Stacked line graph showing voter turnout

by educational level.

f. Tell students to study the line graph carefully then answer

the following questions:

i. How would you describe the trend in voter turnout

between 1980 and 2005?
ii. Which period reflected a sharp decline in voter
turnout amongst voters with primary level
education?
iii. In what year did secondary level voters register the
lowest number of votes?
iv. Which group of voters consistently registers the
highest number of votes?
v. Look at the pie chart again. What education level
comprises majority of the electorate? Does this
group account for the highest voter turnout?
vi. Why do you think that secondary level voters
participate in elections more than voters with no
formal education or only primary education?
vii. With reference to the statistics, make three
inferences about the influence of education on voter
turnout of country X?
Expected answers:
i. Voter turnout has fluctuated over the period 1980-
2005
ii. 1985-1900
iii. 1995
iv. Voters from the tertiary level register the highest
number of votes
v. The primary level comprises majority of the
electorate

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 vi. Persons with secondary education are more likely to
understand the importance of voting and they
would also better understand the issued
presented to them by the politicians.

3) Why are Age and Income Factors Influencing Voter Turnout?

Discussion of Case Study.

a. Project the case study below (Box 15.1) onto the screen.
Ask a student to volunteer to read the text of the comic and
the case study below.

Box 15.5 - Case Study

b. Ask students the following questions based on the case

study:

i. What do you infer about older voters?

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 ii. Why are working class people more likely to vote in
elections?
iii. Give THREE reasons for the loyalty to the UJP.
iv. Outline TWO actions that can be taken to ensure
continuity of family participation in elections.
Expected answers:
i. Older voters are more likely to be committed to
a single party.
ii. Working class people tend to be more aware of
government policies as these often affect them
first. This is especially so for working class
people who are civil/public servants. As such,
they are usually more likely to vote because
they expect changes in policy to come when
they exercise their franchise.

c. Instruct students to read the article from the link below>>.

http://jamaica-
gleaner.com/gleaner/20060507/focus/focus4.html (Politics
'as usual' will not win youth votes)
i. Give THREE concerns of the young electorate
ii. How do you think addressing these concerns will
affect voter turnout?
Expected answers.
i. The cost of accessing tertiary education is too
expensive. Political parties and politicians do
not address the concerns of the young voters.
The government needs to better manage the
affairs of the country.
ii. If the government/political parties/politicians
pay attention to these concerns there might be
an increase in voter turnout especially among
the youth electorate. Greater participation
signals a stronger electorate.

Closure
In Class Assignment
1) Design a poster encouraging citizens to become enumerated to
vote.

2) Write a speech to be presented to the Social Change Club at your

school encouraging students to get involved in the voting process
by following the news and developments within political parties.

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Supplemental
Out-of-Class Assignment
1) Search for articles on voter turnout in the local news papers.

Glossary of Terms

Diehard A person who is unequivocally devoted to a

Supporter group, team or cause.

Voter Loyalty Commitment or devotion to a particular political

party.

Voter Turnout This is the percentage of the electorate that

registers a vote on election day

CSEC Questions
a. Define the following terms
i. Voter Turnout
ii. Floating voter
iii. Voter Apathy
iv. Voter Loyalty (4 marks)

b. Explain TWO social factors that influence voter turnout (4 marks)

c. As the Public Relations Officer of the Electoral Office launch a

programme aimed at improving voter turnout. Your programme
should suggest THREE strategies that may be used to improve
voter turnout (6 marks)

d. Explain why EACH strategy will be successful. (6 marks)

Recommended Materials
1. http://www.jamaicaelections.com/general/2002/articles/200209
22-1.html (Capturing the Youth Vote)
2. http://rjrnewsonline.com/news/politics/youth-leader-explains-
absence-young-voters/ (Youth leader explains absence of youth
vote)

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Bibliography
Buckle-Scott, L, Davis-Morrison, V, Louis, A and Lunt P. (2012).
Social Studies for CSEC. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes Ltd.

Source
Figures 15.1-15.4
Created by Candice Watson

Box 15.1
Created by Candice Watson

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