Mon, 30 Mar, 2015 12:27:19 AM Research suggests parties should explore undecided votes FTimes-STT Report, Mar 30  File Photo Lehtikuva. Political parties should reach out to the less educated men and young voters, if they want to attract the undecided votes.
Juho Rahkonen, research manager at the survey company Taloustutkimus, pointed out that voters in this group are at the moment postponing their decision.
A survey commissioned by the national broadcaster YLE conducted by Taloustutkimus this month showed that 43 per cent of the respondents did not tell or did not know which parties they support for the April 19 parliamentary elections.
This figure increased in February by approximately one percentage point, an occurrence which Taloustutkimus considers to be exceptional.
Generally, this trend is contrary to the certainty expressed by voters, since assurance on party choice increases as election time nears.
“This phenomenon has been highlighted in these elections, that people are not genuinely certain who to vote for,” said Rahkonen.
Vacant place waits for election posters.Photo Lehtikuva. According to a February survey conducted by TNS Gallup and commissioned by the Finnish language daily Helsingin Sanomat, 36 per cent of Finns have not yet made any decision on which party they will vote for during the upcoming elections.
This figure is huge since early voting begins on April 8 while the official day of voting will be on April 19.
“Many people are really confused about who to vote for. Now it is perhaps more difficult than normally to make a choice,” added Rahkonen.
Swing voters appear to make up approximately a third of the total voters. According to a survey by political analyst Sami Borg, the proportion of swing voters during the previous parliamentary elections was 32 per cent, whereas party-loyal voters made up 39 per cent.
File Photo Lehtikuva. Social class, educational background or one’s professional identity will define even more which party one will vote for in the April elections.
The change in voting behaviour is part of broader change in which individuality is emphasised, pointed out Borg.
Similarly, in the previous elections, a big proportion of Finns made a late decision on their party choice.
In February 2011, the proportion of party-loyal voters was 32 per cent.
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