Who votes and why? An empirical analysis reflecting the 2015 general election in Tanzania
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Date
2015-12
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Abstract
This paper empirically provides
answers to very central questions towards.
understanding elections and voting behaviour in the context of democratic systems:
who votes and why. The paper analyses the aspects of voters turn out decline to
characterize who are still turning out to vote and what propels them to vote as
reflected in the 2015 General Election based on a study conducted in Morogoro,
Tanzania. A questionnaire administered through Computer Aided Personal
Interviewing (CAPI) platform was used JOr data collection from 240 randomly drawn
respondents from Jour randomly selected wards (Kichangani, Tungi, Mazimbu and Mil
Mpya) .from Morogoro urban which was purposively selected. A Discrete Choice
Framework and R(117(10171 Utility Approach were employed to determine .factors that
cted voters to go for election or not using a Logit model. Data analysis and
processing were done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)
computer software. The study found that; older people were more likely to vote
compared to younger people; single citizens were 11101e likely to vote compared to
married ones, people in the informal sector were more likelv to vote than citizens who
were formally emploved, males were more likely to vote than females; Christians were
more likely to vote than Mu.slints; those affiliated to political party were more likely to
vote than non party members; citizens who attended to election campaign were more
likely to vote than none-attendees, and citizen living near the polling station were
more likely to vote compared to citizens living further away. The reasons JOu voting
included: exercising democracy (67.5 i',"), exercising the right of each citizen aged IS
years and above (95%), holding elected leaders accountable (60%), to get leaders of
their choice (80 %), another 62.5% were enticed to tote due to the pC1.101"117(111Ce
past leaders in relation to meeting development goals in the respective area. Another
reason f o r voting was. .stated as, exposure to information 017 voting (77.5%). The study
recommends the need to emphasize participation in voting among the females,
.formally employed, and younger citizens who had become eligible for voting.
Description
Journal of continuing Education and Extension, 2015; 6(2): 991-1009
Keywords
General Election, Voting Behaviour, Discrete Choice Framework, 2015 Tanzania election