Poll: First-time voters keen to take part

Poll: First-time voters keen to take part

SOCIAL & LIFESTYLE
Poll: First-time voters keen to take part
A political float preceding the annual Chula-Thammasat football match at the National Stadium on Feb 3. First-time voters may have followed politics more closely than they are given credit for and are eager to have a say in the upcoming election, according to Bangkok Poll. (Bangkok Post file photo)

A majority of first-time voters plan to cast ballots, with 78.6% saying they are eager to exercise their right, according to a Bangkok University opinion survey.

Another 15.1% say they won’t go to the polls, which are expected to be held on Feb 24. Among this group, 8.7% cite school, work or other reasons as reasons, while 2.2% say they have never voted anyway. Another 1.4% say they are fed up with politics and 6.2% have not made up their minds yet, according to Bangkok Poll.  

Asked how they choose their MPs, an overwhelming majority, 91.8%, say they would decide by themselves. Of this group, 60.9% say they will choose candidates with the most capability and far-reaching vision, followed by those who have had track records of solving community problems (46.1%), those not tainted by corruption scandals (43.5%), those with attractive policies (33.9%), and those who can offer voters the most advantages in return (17%).

Another 3.7% said they would choose people based on whether they were well known, and 3.5% would take their political parties into account. Another 7% will pick whoever their family members choose while 0.4% will follow their friends’ choice and another 0.4% will watch social media trends.

Asked how they get news related to parties and the election, 85.8% say they are using social media, especially Facebook and YouTube, to follow news about the contenders and preparations for voting day.

Following in a distant second is TV (36.5%) and websites (20.8%).

Asked what they would like to see in the election, 57.9% say they would like to be able to vote through a mobile app. Some 39.6% would like to see apps listing names and details of candidates in each constituency while 33% want apps that can alert them about the date, time and place where they can cast ballots.

Discussing the anticipated atmosphere of election day, 66.6% believe it will be bullish, citing a long absence -- the last meaningful polls were held seven years ago. Another 19% fear there could be unrest while 14.4% think it will be a quiet, subdued affair.

The Bangkok Poll survey was based on interviews with 1,202 people aged 18-24 in 14 of the 50 districts in Bangkok and in two nearby provinces -- Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan -- from Nov 7-12. The 14 Bangkok districts are Chatuchak, Thung Kru, Thon Buri, Bang Kapi, Bang Khen, Bang Sue, Bang Na, Pathumwan, Phra Nakhon, Phasicharoen, Lat Krabang, Watthana, Suan Luang and Sathon.

It said the results had a margin of error of 3% plus or minus, at 95% confidence.

Some 7 million first-timers are expected to have an impact on the election. 

According to Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw), first-time voters are those born between 1994 and 2001, numbering at least 6.4 million, based on Interior Ministry data.

They consist of those who have been able to vote since 2012 but have never done so because there has been no election since 2011, and those eligible to vote in the coming election. 

Based on the number of votes per MP seat of 104,915, this age group could decide 61.2 seats, or around 12%, of all 500 MP seats, or more than one of every 10 seats.

Their mandate alone is enough to propose a prime minister, legal amendments and the removal of an MP who is found to have lacked a qualification or have a disqualification, iLaw says.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (7)