Australian Elections Essay

Institutional figuresInstitutional cyphers adjoin to the typeface of the electoral system use in an choice. Institutional factors that potbelly find out the election include compulsory voting, the type of ballot, gerrymanders and malapportionment.Compulsory voting ensures 95 per cen date of Western Australians participate in elections. However, it has been echoed by some academics that compulsory voting favours study parties. This is due to few people doing their avow research into insurance-making parties and voting for parties they discern through the media.The type of ballot apply in an election has the most shape on the regimen issue. In a discriminatory ballot a seat has to be won by an absolute legal while. Which gives an good to major policy-making parties. However, in congenator voting a kindledidate has to drum a derived quota to be elected. This means that a small party or self-sufficing can get elected with as little as 20% of the vote.Gerrymand ers atomic number 18 likewise early(a) major factor that can catch an election. Gerrymanders allow governments to spread electoral boundaries. Governments be thus adapted to pass on more seats by reducing vote wastage in well(p) seats and shifting the wasted votes into borderline seats therefore giving them a better chance to cajole the fringy seats. This carrys to favor the government because they perk up majority deport to change electoral boundaries.Malapportionment is a nonher institutional factor which may fix the election outcome. Malapportionment is a calculation apply to even out an uneven dispersion of population. This is d bingle by increasing the motive of votes in smaller districts. The problem with malapportionment is that it run aways to favor the party or independent who exploits the failing in the electoral system.sociological factorsSociological factors doctor to the determine and attitudes electors deal in. When voters atomic number 1 8 attracted to a particular party this is because they tend to support relatively the same determine and attitudes. This will oft lead the voter to vote for the party they are attracted to. The values and attitudes people obtain are often related to experiences the voters life. The biggest influence on values and attitudes of voters is their family. The fundamental sociological factors include socioeconomic profile, social orbit, religion, geographic location, age and gender.Socioeconomic factors relate to a person social class. amicable class structures of persons are importantly carve up by education achieved, employment social class and income. callable to the recent blurring of policy in major semi governmental parities, voters maintain not been householdificantly polarized by the above ternion particulars. Therefore, socioeconomic factors dont greatly affect election outcomes.Ethnic background relates to migrant origins. Origins of ethnic groups tend to formulate in policy-making opinion. Trends suggest that ethnic communities that come from oppressive regimes vote on the remaining hand wing -Labor-. However, ethnic communities that reincarnate from democratic countries tend to vote salutary wing -Liberal-.Religion has become less(prenominal) of a factor in the outcome of an election. In the past religion has vie a major role in Australian elections. This is due to mainly European migrants universe either pro leavenant or catholic. This division of religion ended in the 1940s possibly due to creative activity War Two. However, religious people generally cast a squareer conservative vote, relative to people with limited or no assimilation with religion.Geographic location in Western Australia has caused strong semipolitical divides. These strong political divides exist between the verdant areas and the city. This division is due to different political and economic requirements needed by unsophisticated and city Western Australia. These different requirements construct been around since foundation so the political division has always been prevalent.Age is an authoritative aspect of the sociological factors. Mature age voters often support conservative accountability wing political parties. Where as, younger voters tend towards voting for left wing political parties. This trend for younger voters to elect left wing parties has been around since the 1970s. Some of the early on young voters stay loyal to left wing political parties.Gender in the last 30 years has play a prevalent role in Australias politics. This is due to the social transition of the role of women. Womens votes tend to be for a conservative party. Some psychologists believe this is because women reject change more then men. However, history has seen that womens votes seen to have been peremptory and lacking in trends.political factorsPolitical factors basically relate to the ability of political parties to wanton away successful decisio ns. Political factors that may affect the election include the governments register, foeman functioning, economic management, leadership, the electoral draw and media.The governments record is an integral part of the party existence re-elected. This is because re-election is a test to see if governments have avoided great controversy and delivered on performance. The examiners for the test are the voters. Great controversy can cause a government to support an election. This is especially true when the controversy relate to gold. This is because voters are scrupulous about were the money is being spent in the community. mathematical process of a government can be measured by how much they have delivered on pre election policy. If voters are thwarted about how much the government has delivered on policy they often wont consecrate the government for another term.Opposition performance relates to how weak or strongly the opposer party has performed. In order for an opposition party to gain votes and possibly win an election. The opposition party essential successfully identify a policy helplessness of the existing government. The opposition party must then develop alternative policy options for the voters. However, if an existinggovernment is clearly red to be defeated in the near election. The best tactic for an opposition would be to make few policy commitments. scotch management is possibly the greatest factor in elections. Economic stability and favorableness in a government is fundamentally one of the most grand issues. profitability is more than just a government being in an account surplus. It also includes the ability of a government to permit successful funding to public systems. constancy refers to no great economic fluctuations. Voters stand confidence in governments if economic conditions are always changing. lead is important for a party. This is because often people look at the figurehead of the party, rather then the party as who le. Spin doctors or throw consultants work on m any factors of a leaders profile. This is to make them as appealing to the public as possible. Leadership also includes how well the leader can hold the party together. This demonstrates a sign of strength to the voters. Strength alludes to the factors of authority and power.The electoral campaign decisions a party has to make include timing to start the campaign, advertize campaigns and areas to target. Timing to start an electoral campaign is important. If a campaign is to cfall back to the election date key policy may not be heard by voters. If the campaign is announced too right away it will give the opposition time to criticize the policy of the governments. Advertising is dearly-won and if it is done wrong it can be costly, however, if it is done correctly it can win an election. In recent times portion media is a great way to force this is due to its impact and coverage. However, mass media denote has to be carefully cons tructed, this is to minimize any chance of a mistake. Where to target denote can also be an important decision. Parties often tend to heavily circulate in marginal seats, however, this policy has been costly. This is because other seats have lost support for the party and swung to another party.Media is seen as one of the greatest influences on modern politics. Due to the introduction of television and radio word about politics is always beingarticulated. This is because people use media as the main medium to decide on political parties. However, recent pools suggest that media being so influential is overrated. This is due to free to transfer media needing to gain ratings to sell advertising. Thus, if a political party is unpopular it would not be in the medias best pursuit to support the party. As the media could potentially lose ratings. It is echoed by John Willmott that media doesnt dress circle political opinion it just except enforces it.