Voting behaviour: tactical voting GE24

What role could it play in influencing the outcome of this year's election?

Students of Politics will no doubt be aware that the twin anchors of class and party alignment do play a massive role in how people vote, but the outcome of the election is determined by the more volatile segment of the electorate, who vote based on factors such as the past performance of the parties, party leaders, the policy pogrammes on offer, and so on. A factor that can also be added to the mix is tactical voting.

There was an excellent article on this, and the formation of a new group in the Guardian recently.

Questions based on the article
1. What is the purpose of tactical voting in the UK's first-past-the-post electoral system?
2. How does tactical voting work, and why do supporters of certain parties engage in it?
3. Why is it easier to convey the message of tactical voting during by-elections compared to general elections?
4. How has Keir Starmer's leadership impacted the likelihood of Lib Dems and former Conservatives engaging in tactical voting?
5. Which seats are predicted to be vulnerable to tactical voting, and what historical reference is made regarding potential outcomes?
6. What percentage of voters are willing to consider tactical voting to remove or save the Conservative party, according to a poll by Best for Britain?
7. How does Best for Britain recommend voters decide on tactical voting in different constituencies?

Correct answers
1. Tactical voting aims to counteract the effects of the first-past-the-post system by strategically voting for the candidate most likely to defeat the incumbent or leading party.
2. Supporters may vote for an opponent they believe has a better chance of winning to prevent their least preferred candidate from being elected.
3. The message of tactical voting is more effectively communicated during by-elections due to the focused nature of these campaigns.
4. Keir Starmer's leadership is perceived as more reassuring than Jeremy Corbyn's, making Labour a more attractive option for Lib Dems and former Conservatives considering tactical voting.
5. Seats vulnerable to tactical voting are expected to experience "Portillo moments", referencing significant upsets like Michael Portillo losing his seat in 1997.
6. Nearly 40% of voters would consider tactical voting to remove a Conservative, while around 14% would do so to save the Tories, based on a poll by Best for Britain.
7. Best for Britain recommends tactical voting based on seat-by-seat polling projections, suggesting specific parties to support where they have the best chance of defeating the Conservatives.

Activities/follow-ups based on the article

1. Divide the students into small groups and ask them to discuss the concept of "first-past-the-post" electoral systems. Encourage them to share their understanding of how these systems work and the potential issues they may present.

2. Provide students with a list of different voting strategies (e.g., voting for their preferred candidate, voting tactically to prevent another candidate from winning, not voting at all) and ask them to rank these strategies in order of effectiveness. Facilitate a class discussion on the pros and cons of each approach.

3. Show students a brief video or news article that explains the concept of tactical voting. Ask them to identify the key points and then discuss in pairs or small groups whether they think tactical voting is a legitimate and ethical practice in a democracy.

The GetVoting.org web page is here. It's a useful tool for students when analysing how tactical voting could play out in their own constituency.