Public opinion and the 2002 local elections

In May 2002 NOP conducted two surveys for The Electoral Commission:

• Survey A – in English areas with local elections in May 2002, designed to gauge
attitudes to voting and local elections. The results of this survey are summarised in the
‘Public opinion and the 2002 local elections’ Findings on the Commission’s website.
Full topline results can be found below.

• Survey B – a nationwide survey among British adults designed to gauge attitudes to

voting and local elections. Full topline results can be found below.

Survey A – English areas with local elections

Topline results

• 1,281 interviews were conducted by NOP with adults aged 18+ in areas of England
where local elections were held in May 2002 (excluding those area where new electoral
arrangements wee being piloted).
• A quota-based telephone methodology was used with boosters among 18-24s and
British minority ethnic groups.
• Fieldwork was conducted 3-9 May 2002.
• Figures are in percentages with unweighted bases in brackets.
• Results are subject to sampling tolerances which means that not all results are
statistically significant (±3 on the full sample of 1,281 at the 95% confidence level).
• Data are weighted to the known population profile and by the actual turnout.
• Results are based on all respondents unless otherwise stated.
• Where percentages do not add up to exactly 100%, this may be due to computer
rounding or to multiple answers.

Good morning/afternoon/evening. My name is … from NOP Research, an independent

market research agency. We are conducting a survey about some current issues. The
interview will take between 15 and 20 minutes. If this is not a convenient time to call I can
call you back at a time of your choosing.

Q1 Most people did not get along to vote at the Local Elections on the 2 May. Can I just
check, did you manage to vote at the Local Elections on the 2 May, or not?

(1281)
Yes ...................................................33
No.....................................................67
Don’t remember................................ -

IF YES.
Q2 Did you vote…?
READ OUT
(628)
In person at a polling station ...........92
By post ..............................................7
By proxy ............................................1
Other ................................................. -

1
 Don’t know ........................................ -

IF NO DID NOT VOTE AT Q1.

Q3 Were you registered to vote or not?
(652)
Yes, registered to vote .....................90
No, not registered to vote .................8
Don’t know ........................................2

IF NO DID NOT VOTE AT Q1

Q4 There are many different reasons why people don’t vote at elections. What was the
main reason you did not vote at the Local Elections on the 2nd May? PROBE
Anything else?

Recorded verbatim
Top mentions:
(652)
Busy working/couldn’t get time off work.................15
Lack of interest/don’t care/fed up.............................9
Busy-no time to vote .................................................7
Couldn’t decide which party to vote for/
no candidates/policies appealed to me ................7
I was away/on holiday/abroad/out of the area.........7
Makes no difference/no point/waste
of time ....................................................................6

IF NO DID NOT VOTE AT Q1

Q5 I’m going to read out a list of reasons other people have given for not voting at local
elections. Which of these, if any, would you say applies to you. READ OUT.
PROBE Anything else?
(652)
Local elections are not very important ....................20
I don’t know what the issues are .............................37
I don’t think it makes any difference .......................41
I didn’t have time to get to a polling station ............45
I wasn’t aware local elections were taking place .....9
I couldn’t decide who to vote for .............................29

ASK ALL THOSE WHO DID VOTE AT Q1

Q6 People give many reasons for voting at elections. Why did you vote at the Local
Election on the 2nd May? PROBE Anything else?

Recorded verbatim
Top mentions:
(628)
To have my say/make my voice heard etc..............19
I’ve always voted......................................................17
It’s our right to vote ..................................................13

2
 To support party/candidate/policies .......................12
If you don’t vote you cannot complain....................11
It’s important to vote/it should be taken seriously ..10
Everyone should vote/you have the right/option .....9

ASK ALL THOSE WHO DID VOTE AT Q1

Q7 Did you vote mostly about the way the Government is running the country or mostly
about the policies of the parties or candidates’ for the local area?

(628)
The way the Government is running the country....24
Parties/candidates’ policies for the local area ........70
Don’t know ................................................................5

ASK ALL
Q8 How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with…ROTATE. READ OUT

(1281) The system of registering The actual process of voting

to vote in Britain at elections in Britain
Very satisfied................................................26 ...........................................22
Fairly satisfied ..............................................50 ...........................................51
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied..................12 ...........................................12
Fairly dissatisfied ..........................................6 .............................................9
Very dissatisfied ............................................2 .............................................3
Don’t know ....................................................5 .............................................4

ASK ALL
Q9 Thinking back to the local election campaign, how interested would you say you
were in news about the Local Elections? Would you say you were… READ OUT -
ROTATE ORDER
(1281)
Very interested .................................12
Fairly interested ...............................42
Not particularly interested................30
Not at all interested..........................14
Don’t know ........................................3

Q10 How often do you vote in… Would you say you READ OUT…
ROTATE ORDER

(1281) General Local Council European Parliament

Elections Elections Elections
always vote .......................... 66 ..............................37 ................................25
usually vote .......................... 11 ..............................22 ................................15
sometimes vote..................... 7 ...............................15 ................................10
rarely vote ............................. 5 ................................8 .................................10
or never vote ........................ 11 ..............................18 ................................38
It depends ............................. - ................................ -................................... -
Don’t know ............................ - ................................ -...................................2

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Q11 I am going to read out a number of statements some people have made about the
local elections campaign this year. Please tell me how much you agree or disagree
with each…
READ OUT – ROTATE ORDER (1281)
Strongly Tend to Neither Tend to Strongly Don’t
agree agree disagree disagree know
a) I did not believe that ............27 ........... 21 .............4 ............ 21 ............26 .......... 1
voting in the local elections
would make much
of a difference

b) None of the parties ...............16 ........... 18 ............17 ........... 25 ............16 .......... 8

stood for the policies
I would like to see

c) I didn’t think it was ................13 ........... 14 .............6 ............ 26 ............41 .......... 1

important to vote at
the local elections

d) There was very little .............22 ........... 25 ............13 ........... 18 ............11 ......... 10
difference between what
the main parties
were offering

e) It was an interesting ..............7 ............ 11 ............15 ........... 24 ............35 .......... 9

local election campaign

f) Voting at local elections.........34 ........... 27 .............8 ............ 14 ............16 .......... 1

is the best way to
have your say

g) Voting at local elections .......46 ........... 25 .............8 ............ 11 ............10 ...........-

is an important part of being
a responsible citizen

Q12 Thinking of things like coverage in the media and information direct from the parties
themselves, did you receive too much, too little or about the right amount of
information on the following aspects of the local elections…

READ OUT – RANDOMISE ORDER

(1281)
Too much Too little About the Don't
right amount know
The candidates in your ward ............ 2 ....................61 ...................33 ....................4
The policies of the parties................. 4 ....................59 ...................32 ....................6
The parties’ campaigns nationally.... 7 ....................47 ...................39 ....................7
The parties’ campaigns locally......... 3 ....................55 ...................37 ....................4

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Q13 During the local election campaign did you do any of the following. Please only
answer for things that were about this year’s local elections. Did you

RANDOM ORDER READ OUT. SINGLE CODE.

(1281)
Yes No DK
Read any of the local election ....................42 ...................58 .................... -
coverage in newspapers?
See any of the local election.......................40 ...................60 .................... -
coverage on TV?
See any party election ................................46 ...................54 .................... -
broadcasts on TV?
See or hear about any ...............................26 ...................74 ....................1
opinion polls?
Have any political leaflets ...........................76 ...................23 ....................1
or letters put through your letterbox?
Hear any of the local election ....................19 ...................80 .................... -
coverage on the radio?
Use the internet to access ...........................5 ....................95 .................... -
information on the election?
See any political advertisements ................35 ...................64 ....................1
on billboards?
Discuss the election with friends ................39 ...................61 .................... -
or family?
Receive a personal call from a ..................17 ...................83 .................... -
representative of any political party?

Q14 Thinking about the last few weeks leading up to the elections, did you see any
publicity or information about the local election or not?

(1281)
Yes, did see any publicity or information ........... 55
No, did not see any publicity or information ...... 45
DK..........................................................................-

IF YES AT Q14 ASK Q15

Q15 And did you see any publicity or information about the local election which was
produced by your local council?

(681)
Yes .......................... 39
No............................ 56
Don’t know ............... 6

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 ASK ALL WHO DID NOT VOTE OTHERS GO TO Q17
Q16 I am going to read out a number of suggestions that have been made to encourage
people to vote at local elections.

For each one, assuming it had been available at the local election on 2 May, would it
have made you more likely to vote, less likely to vote or would it have made no
difference to whether or not you voted?

READ OUT – RANDOMISE ORDER

(652)

More likely Less likely No difference Depends DK

Voting at weekends ........... 34................ 4...............61 ............ 1................ -
Having polling stations ..... 44................ 6...............49 .............- ................ -
at the supermarket
Polling stations being ....... 36................ 4...............58 .............- ................1
pen 24 hours
Voting using the internet.... 38............... 10..............50 ............ 1................2
Voting using the ................ 54............... 10..............35 ............ 1................ -
Telephone or
mobile phone
Voting by post.................... 46............... 12..............40 ............ 1................ -

ASK ALL
Q17 Overall how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the way your local Council is
running the area? Would you say you are…READ OUT

(1281)
Very satisfied.................................... 6
Fairly satisfied ................................. 46
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied..... 16
Not very satisfied ............................ 17
Not at all satisfied............................ 15
Don’t know ....................................... -

Q18 How well informed do you think the local Council keeps you about the services it
provides? Would you say the Council keeps you…READ OUT

(1281)
Very well informed .......................... 11
Fairly well informed......................... 41
Not very well informed .................... 35
Not informed at all .......................... 12
Don’t know ....................................... 1

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Q19 Do you think your local Council is run by… READ OUT

(1281)
The Conservatives .......................... 15
Labour ............................................. 55
Liberal Democrats............................ 8
Other ................................................ 3
DK.................................................... 18

Q20 As you may know, before the last General Election, the law was changed so that all
registered voters could obtain a postal vote if they wanted one. They could do this
by ringing their local council and asking for a postal vote. Before this interview, were
you aware of this or not?

(1281)
Yes, was aware ............................... 52
No, not aware.................................. 47
Don’t know ....................................... -

Q21 Approximately how far, in miles, do you live from your polling station?

(1281)
Less than one mile.......................... 36
One.................................................. 51
Two................................................... 4
Three or more .................................. 4
Don’t know ....................................... 5

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Survey B – Nationwide survey
Topline results

• 952 interviews were conducted with British adults aged 18+ in all areas (regardless of
whether local elections or not)
• A quota-based Omnibus telephone methodology was used.
• Fieldwork was conducted 3-5 May 2002.
• Figures are in percentages with unweighted bases in brackets.
• Results are subject to sampling tolerances which means that not all results are
statistically significant (±3 on the full sample of 952 at the 95% confidence level).
• Data are weighted to the known population profile.
• Results are based on all respondents unless otherwise stated.
• Where percentages do not add up to exactly 100%, this may be due to computer
rounding or to multiple answers.
• Results of a MORI survey undertaken for The Electoral Commission in May 2001 have
been provided for context (N.B. these questions were asked about general elections
rather than local elections).

Q How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the following

READ OUT – ROTATE STATEMENTS

The system of registering to vote in Britain

(952)
Very satisfied................................................18
Fairly satisfied ..............................................55
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied..................10
Fairly dissatisfied ..........................................9
Very dissatisfied ............................................3
Don’t know ....................................................4

The actual process of voting at elections in Britain

(952)
Very satisfied................................................18
Fairly satisfied ..............................................52
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied...................9
Fairly dissatisfied .........................................13
Very dissatisfied ............................................5
Don’t know ....................................................4

8
Q I am going to read out a number of suggestions that have been made for
encouraging people to vote at local elections.

Please tell me which one or two, if any, would be most likely to encourage you
personally to vote at the next local election.

READ OUT – RANDOMISE ORDER NOP *MORI

(952) May 2001
Voting at weekends ...........................................12 ..........................9
Having polling stations at the Supermarket ......27 .........................27
Polling stations being open 24 hours................18 .........................23
Voting from home using the Internet.................28 .........................21
Voting from home using the telephone.............38 .........................36
Voting by post....................................................33 .........................16
It depends ...........................................................1 .......................... 4
Don’t know ..........................................................9 ......................... 10

Q I am going to read out a number of statements some people have made about the
local elections. Please tell me how much do you agree or disagree with each…
READ OUT – RANDOMISE ORDER

Strongly Tend to Tend to Strongly No

agree agree Neither disagree disagree opinion
a) I feel it is my duty to vote
at local elections ............................52 .............23 ..............4 ..............12 ..............9 ............1

*MORI (May 2001)…’at general

elections’ .........................................65 .............18 ..............2 ...............9 ...............5 ............ -

b) I don’t believe voting at

local elections makes
much of a difference ........................15 .............16 ..............5 ..............23 .............40 ...........2

*MORI (May 2001) ............................9 ...............9 ...............3 ..............23 .............55 ...........1

c) I don't know enough about

the candidates who stand at
local elections .................................37 .............30 ..............5 ..............14 .............13 ...........2

*MORI (May 2001) ..........................23 .............30 ..............6 ..............23 .............17 ...........1

d) I don't know enough about

what the parties stand for
at local elections .............................25 .............26 ..............4 ..............23 .............20 ...........2

*MORI (May 2001) ...........................13 .............21 ..............4 ..............30 .............31 ........... -

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e) At local elections none of the
parties stands for the policies
I would like to see ............................17 .............26 .............12 .............26 .............13 ...........6

*MORI (May 2001) ...........................10 .............18 .............10 .............34 .............22 ...........6

f) I don’t think voting at

local elections is
very important ..................................13 .............13 ..............4 ..............23 .............46 ...........1

*MORI (May 2001) ............................5 ...............5 ...............1 ..............15 .............74 ...........0

g) Voting at local elections is

the best way to have
your say............................................41 .............30 ..............5 ..............13 ..............9 ............2

h) Voting at local elections is

an important part of being
a responsible citizen ........................54 .............26 ..............3 ...............9 ...............6 ............1

Q How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements…. ROTATE AND
READ OUT

Strongly Tend to Tend to Strongly No

agree agree Neither disagree disagree opinion

a) Most of my family and friends

think voting is a waste of time .........17 .............14 ..............5 ..............24 .............34 ............. 6

b) Being active in politics is a

good way to get benefits
for me and my family ......................15 .............17 ..............9 ..............29 .............24 ............. 6

c) It takes too much time and

effort to be active in public affairs....22 .............32 ..............6 ..............21 .............14 ............. 4

Q How often do you vote in… Would you say you READ OUT…

ROTATE ORDER

Always Usually Some Rarely Never It No

vote vote -times vote vote depends opinion
vote
General elections .....67 .............12 ..............7 ...............5 ...............8 ...............*................1

Local elections ........50 .............15 .............11 ..............8 ..............14 ..............1 ...............1

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