Subject: Social Studies Type of Lesson: Web-based, Discussion, Group Work

Grade: 10 CSEC OBJ: Outline the Factors that Influence the

Outcomes of Elections (Section A, #
19)

Term: 2 Unit Number # 1- Government

and Title:

Duration: 1x 35 minutes Week Number: 4

Lesson Number # 12 Voter Attitudes: Factors

and Title: Influencing Outcome of Elections (2):
a. Voter Turnout
b. Voter Attitude to Government

Objectives
As a result of this lesson, the student will be able to:
1) define the term, Voter Turnout.
2) describe different voter responses/attitudes to government.
3) analyze the impact of voter turnout and voter attitudes to
government on the outcomes of elections.
4) draw charts and graphs to represent voter turnout.
5) encourage members of the electorate who may be apathetic
towards government to vote.

Prerequisite Student Knowledge

The student should be familiar with:
1) voting processes and electoral processes.
2) the importance of the electorate to the voting process.

Important Points
1) Factors influencing the outcomes of elections range from social
and cultural to economic and political. One of the chief
determinants of the outcome of an election is the electorate.
Political Parties, their candidates and volunteers seek to motivate
the electorate to participate in elections as it is their right to do so.
As such, increasing voter turnout and party support is an essential
aspect of campaigning;

Teacher Instructional Material 1

 2) Voter turnout refers to the actual number of people that cast a
ballot in an election. Usually, voter turnout is a fraction of the
number of people who are eligible to vote. That is why it is
important to convince as many eligible voters as possible to turn
out and vote.

3) Additionally, political parties use a process called canvassing to

find out the peoples views of their partys plans or manifesto. This
is done in order for candidates and political parties to improve their
image and gain widespread support. In the event that the governing
party has displayed transparency, accountability and a generally
good relationship with their constituents then the voter attitude will
be receptive. On the other hand, if the government does not display
desired qualities, the constituents become frustrated and seek to
elect a government from the opposing party or parties.

Key Terms

Electorate Voter Turnout

Challenge Areas
(To be done after you complete this lesson)
1. Go to the website>>.
http://www.idea.int/vt/country_view.cfm?CountryCode=JM
a. Examine the table carefully then use graph paper to
construct a line graph showing the voter turnout in
Jamaica from 1949 to 2007
b. Look at the columns labeled registration, VAP(Voting
Age Population) turnout and Voting Age Population.
Compare the columns then offer reasons for:
i. Low voter turnout amongst voting age
population;
ii. Some members of the VAP not being registered
voters.
c. Mount finished work on cartridge paper and display it
in the classroom (optional).

Equipment/Materials Needed
Multimedia projector, computers with internet connectivity, pdf reader
and flash player, speakers / headsets for audio and a spacious
classroom

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Note to Teacher
Ensure that students pay attention to the factors influencing the
outcome of elections. Have them compare these factors to their
experiences of elections. As usual, encourage them to do additional
reading.

Lesson Notes

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Introduction
1) Introductory Activity
Why is the Electorate Important? - Discussion.

a. Tell students to look carefully at the word cloud in Box

12.1 and then use the words to construct a sentence
expressing how they feel about the government of their
country (Example: The countrys progress depends on
service, respect and dignity.)

Figure 12.1: Word Cloud (source:

http://farmingtonnhpoetandwriterproject.blogspot.com/p/ou
r-wordle-projects.html Thoughts on our Republic, Voting
and the Electorate)

i. They should next share their sentence with the class

(or a peer or parents). Did all of you have the same
sentence?

b. Now show the class a container with confetti.

i. Direct students to look at the container and say
what they think it represents.
Expected answer: The electorate can be
compared to the confetti in the container
because people have different views which
determine whether or not they vote as well as
who they vote for.

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 c. Tell students that this lesson continues to outline the factors
influencing the outcomes of elections.

Body of Lesson
1) What is Voter Turnout? Internet Use, Problem-Solving.

a. Direct students to read the definition of voter turnout at the

following website>>.
http://www.davemanuel.com/investor-dictionary/voter-
turnout/ (Definition of Voter Turnout).

b. They should next sketch a diagram or picture of voter

turnout based on their understanding of the definition.

c. Next, they should go to this website

Warning
Always double
check statistics!
Encourage students
to cross-reference
information in order
to ensure accuracy.
http://www.jamaicaelections.com/local/2012/index.php and
examine the table in the lower left-hand corner of the
screen (inset here in Box 12.1). Then do the following:
i. Add the total number of votes cast in the 2012
Jamaica Local government election.
ii. Find out the number of people on the voters list in
Jamaica as at February 2012
iii. Calculate the voter turnout for the March 2012
Local Government Elections in Jamaica.
Expected answers:
i. 568,141
ii. K
iii. L

Box 12.1 Overall Votes cast in Jamaica 2012 Local

Government elections.

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 2) How does Voter Turnout Influence the Outcome of Elections?
Internet Use, Discussion, Problem Solving.

a. Tell students to visit the following website>>.

http://www.caribbeanelections.com/lc/elections/results_200
What do you 6.asp (General Elections 11 December 2006)
think? Then read the section Background paying careful
Do you think that the attention to the last three (3) paragraphs. Next they should:
2006 St. Lucia
election results i. Explain why the victory of the UWP was a surprise;
would have been ii. Use the statistics provided on the page to calculate
different if more the number of votes that the UWP received.
people turned out to
vote? Explain your
answer. b. Students should return to the webpage >>.
http://www.jamaicaelections.com/local/2012/index.php
(Elections 2012) and examine the two tables to the left of
the screen (as seen in inset at end of lesson Box 12.2).
Then:
i. Create a table that merges both sets of information
(i.e. number of seats and number of votes should be
on the same table);
ii. Calculate the number of votes that the JLP lost to
the PNP by;
iii. State the number of constituency divisions in the
2012 Local Government elections;
iv. Give the number of seats that the PNP won by in
the elections;
v. Calculate the percentage of votes that each party
polled in the elections;
vi. Now calculate the percentage of seats that each
party won do the percentages of seats match the
percentage of votes?
vii. Explain your answer for vi above.
Expected answers:
i
PARTY
. # VOTES # SEATS WON
JLP
i. 245,717 75
NDM 0 0
PNP
ii. 7 318,097 151
INDEPENDENT
2 4,047 2
JAM, 0 0
MGPPP 3 280 0
TOTAL 8 568,141 228
0

ii. 72,380
iii. 228

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 iv. 77
v. JLP-43.25%, PNP-55.99%, IND-0.76%
vi. JLP-32.9%, PNP-66.2%, IND-0.9%
vii. No. The JLP had a higher percentage of votes
than seats and the PNP had a higher percentage
of seats than votes. This may be attributed to the
fact that some constituencies are larger and
more greatly populated than others.

3) How does Voter Attitude to Government Influence Voter

Turnout? - Discussion of Comic.

a. Project this next image on to the screen and tell students to

Try This!
examine it or visit the webpage below to view the comic>>.
Make signs http://www.getmilked.com/comics/TheDefiantElectorate.ht
encouraging citizens ml (The defiant Electorate) They should then answer the
in your community to
vote! Each sign following questions:
should focus on a
maximum of three Figure 12.2: The Defiant Electorate
reasons to vote.

i. What do you think the statement I have no political

power and I VOTE means?
ii. Why do you think the artist titled the comic The
Defiant Electorate
iii. What does the voters facial expression tell you
about how he feels about the government
iv. Who do you think the voter is sending this message
to?

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 b. Next, tell them to complete the table below by writing three
(3) positive and three (3) negative attitudes that people
have towards the government of their country.

ATTITUDE TO POSITIVE NEGATIVE

GOVERNMENT 1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
Table 12.1 Electorate attitudes to government

c. Ask students: How could your attitude towards the

government affect whether or not you vote in an election?

Closure
In Class Assignment
1) Use the statistics provided in box 14.2 to construct a bar graph.

Supplemental
Out-of-Class Assignment
1) Read the information provided at the website below on Guyanas
2006 elections. Compare the issues of voter turnout under the
proportional representation system with that of the first-past-the-
post system.
http://www.caribbeanelections.com/gy/past/results_2006.asp.

Box 12.2: Jamaica Local Government elections 2012

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Glossary of Terms

Electorate This refers to the whole body of electors. All

those persons who are entitled to vote in an
election.

Voter Turnout This is the total number of eligible voters that

cast a ballot for an election calculated as a
percentage of the total number of eligible/
registered voters.

CSEC Questions
a. Define the terms electorate, ballot and political party (6 marks)

b. Give TWO reasons why some people will not vote (2 marks)

c. i. As the Public Education Officer of the Electoral Commission,

suggest TWO strategies that may be used to encourage the
electorate to participate in elections. (6 marks)

ii. For each strategy, explain why these will be successful. (6marks)

Recommended Materials
The web-links below will prove useful to further understanding the
lesson.
1. http://www.idea.int/vt/country_view.cfm?CountryCode=JM (Voter
Turnout Data for Jamaica)
2. http://www.rockthevote.com/about/about-young-voters/ (About
Young Voters)

Bibliography
Buckle-Scott, L, Davis-Morrison, V, Louis, A and Lunt P. (2012).
Social Studies for CSEC. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes Ltd.

Gray, A and McMorris, K. (2009) The Gleaners Youthlink Magazine

CSEC Revision Guide; Social Studies. Kingston: Selecto
Publications Ltd.

Figure 12.1
[Thoughts on our Republic, Voting and the Electorate]. Retrieved June
18, 2012, from:

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 http://farmingtonnhpoetandwriterproject.blogspot.com/p/our-
wordle-projects.html
Box12.1
[Overall Votes]. Retrieved June 19, 2012, from:
http://www.jamaicaelections.com/local/2012/index.php

Box 12.2
[Called Seats/Overall Votes]. Retrieved June 19, 2012, from:
http://www.jamaicaelections.com/local/2012/index.php

Figure 12.2
[The Defiant Electorate]. Retrieved June 19, 2012, from:
http://www.getmilked.com/comics/TheDefiantElectorate.html

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