It's Global Election Day 🗳️, and we're launching our new Electoral Psychology Observatory. ➡️ Follow: @EPO_lse
But what is "electoral psychology" and why does it matter? 🤔 [a thread]
But what is "electoral psychology" and why does it matter? 🤔 [a thread]
In some countries, polling stations can only be hosted in public buildings such as 🏫 schools and 🏦 town halls.
In others, they may be held in ⛪️ churches, 🍻 pubs, or even 🧦 laundromats, 🚽 public toilets, people’s 🏡 homes or 🚗 garages.
In others, they may be held in ⛪️ churches, 🍻 pubs, or even 🧦 laundromats, 🚽 public toilets, people’s 🏡 homes or 🚗 garages.
Some people may go to vote alone, as a couple, across generations within a family, or with friends. 👫👩👩👦👦👨👧👩👧👧👩🦲👵
That's one reason why elections are often a special social moment on a special day. 🌠
That's one reason why elections are often a special social moment on a special day. 🌠
Memories from childhood elections are some of the most influential when it comes to our future electoral experiences and behaviour. 🧒
Voters often refer to elements of intimacy, solemnity and emotionality which they associate with polling stations and booths (think of #dogsatpollingstations). 🐩
Polling stations are also complex microcosms with their own rules, personnel and organisational complexities.
Polling stations are also complex microcosms with their own rules, personnel and organisational complexities.
But even with all the wholesome 🐕 photos, the reality is that citizens hold negative feelings 💢 towards each other (for electoral reasons) or towards their political institutions and personnel.
Images like this one 🚮 may symbolically epitomise those complex feelings:
Images like this one 🚮 may symbolically epitomise those complex feelings:
In fact, negative feelings towards opposing voters are widespread among 🇬🇧 British citizens.
How many do you think feel "disgust" towards people who vote for parties they dislike?
How many do you think feel "disgust" towards people who vote for parties they dislike?
Find the answer from @EPO_lse research here: lse.ac.uk/News/Latest-ne…
Besides tracking electoral hostility, @EPO_lse looks at key aspects of polling station design, and evaluates measures used to optimise the electoral experience of key target categories such as first time voters, and voters suffering from mental and learning disabilities.
Then there's the 'ergonomics' of elections.
Did you know that voting in a ⛪️ church makes people more likely to vote for conservative candidates?
Or that people spend more time thinking about their vote when using a 📝 paper ballot as opposed to a 🖥️ machine?
Did you know that voting in a ⛪️ church makes people more likely to vote for conservative candidates?
Or that people spend more time thinking about their vote when using a 📝 paper ballot as opposed to a 🖥️ machine?
📺 Watch more on "electoral ergonomics" here:
