The sources of tactical voting in British parliamentary elections, 1983?1987 (original) (raw)

Using data from the UK General Election Surveys of 1983 and 1987, we present a critical test of different approaches to tactical voting. Specifically, we are concerned with how the competitive situation in each constituency affects voters' likelihood of voting tactically, as well as the role of voters' attitudes and personal characteristics. We find that voters are less sensitive to the actual marginality of a district than to whether or not their party has a chance of winning the seat. In addition, we find that party identification, and particularly intense loyalty, dampen the tendency to vote tactically, regardless of the type of district. We also consider differences in tactical voting between constituencies where Labour dominates vs. districts where the Conservatives are strongest. Finally, we discuss the broader implications of these findings for the study of voting behavior. In recent years, the question of tactical voting has received considerable attention. At a theoretical level, rational choice models, with their emphasis on individual strategic behavior, have been prominent in addressing these issues. ~ At an empirical level, recent British electoral history has given testimony to the practical importance of tactical voting (Rasmussen, 1984; Catt, 1989). Indeed, this issue has been so salient in Britain that a pressure group has been formed with the aim of encouraging the spread of this practice. One major spur to the increased attention paid to tactical voting in the UK has been the rise of third-party politics during the 1980s. It is the very presence of a meaningful third party that makes tactical voting not just possible but also sensible. Quite self-consciously, Britain's third party, under its various names, has sought to encourage tactical voting by stressing,