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Abstract
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Article Information:
The 21st Century Voters in Jamaica
Paul A. Bourne, Asha Best, Cynthia G. Francis and Orville W. Beckford
Corresponding Author: Paul Andrew Bourne
Submitted: 2010 January, 20
Accepted: 2010 January, 30
Published: 2010 March, 10 |
Abstract:
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This study seeks to update the knowledge reservoir on contemporary Jamaican voters. One of the
pillows upon which ‘good’ democracy is built is one’s right to change governments through the autonomous
process of voting. Voting behaviour of Jamaicans dates back to 1944. After 1944 to 1971, voting behaviour
was analyzed by way of the electoral data. Carl Stone, on the other hand, has shown that opinion survey can
be effectively used to predict an election by way of knowing the profile of the electorates. Since Stone’s study
in 1993 no one has sought to update and evaluate the voting behaviour of Jamaicans. This study utilizes data
taken from two surveys that were administered by the Centre of Leadership and Governance (CLG), University
of the W est Indies, Mona, Jamaica, in July to August 2006 and May 2007. For each survey, the sample was
selected using a multistage sampling approach of the fourteen parishes of Jamaica. Each parish was called a
cluster, and each cluster was further classified into urban and rural zones, male and female, and social class.
The final sample was then randomly selected from the clusters. The first survey saw a sample of 1,338
respondents, the second survey, 1,438 respondents. Descriptive statistics would be used to analyze the data.
The current survey indicates that PNP still retains a 3 percent lead (36.2% PNP to 33.2% JLP) among eligible
voters. However, a substantial narrowing has occurred since August 2006, when the comparable figures were
53% PNP and 23.1% JLP. This represents a 10% net increase for JLP, and a 17% decrease for PNP.
Furthermore, from the May 2007 survey, 41% of the males identified with PNP and 42% with JLP, whereas
for females 42% identified with PNP and only about 35% with JLP--a substantial gender difference in party
preference. Women also are less satisfied with the two-party system generally, with 22% opting for “something
else”, as compared with 17% among males. Voting behaviour is not, and while people who are ‘undying’
supporters for a party may continue to voting one way (or decides not to vote); the vast majority of the voting
populace are more sympathizers as against being fanatics. Generally, people vote base on (i) charismatic
leadership; (ii) socialization - earlier traditions; (iii) perception of direct benefits (or disbenefits); (iv) associates
and class affiliation; (v) gender differences, and that there is a shift-taking place in Jamaican landscape.
Increasingly more Jamaicans are becoming meticulous and are moving away from the stereotypical uncritical
and less responsive to chicanery. Education through the formal institutions and media are playing a pivotal
function in fostering a critical mind in the public.
Key words: Voting behaviour, voters, governance, Jamaica, , ,
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Cite this Reference:
Paul A. Bourne, Asha Best, Cynthia G. Francis and Orville W. Beckford, . The 21st Century Voters in Jamaica. Current Research Journal of Social Sciences, (2): Page No: 114-122.
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ISSN (Online): 2041-3246
ISSN (Print): 2041-3238 |
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