Voting because of economic leadership is especially characteristic of those in the prairies and BC, among our youngest and oldest members, among supporters of the conservatives and among males. This is very similar to the profile of the CARP Conservative party supporter, so it is clear that the Conservatives have made the economic stewardship issue their own.

Those who vote because of economic leadership are especially likely to say they vote the party rather than the issue, or both, and are especially likely to say they will not switch their vote if their preferred party does not support leadership on the economy.

Once again, this is typical of the CARP Conservative supporter, in that they are the least likely to vote primarily for an issue they care about, and are least likely to switch parties if their issue is not supported. Support for economic leadership is higher among those who say they “definitely” will vote in the next election compared to those who are less sure than this.

Those who vote primarily on seniors’ issues are located in Atlantic Canada and Quebec, are our oldest members, support the NDP, are the likeliest to switch votes if their issues are not supported and are less than “definitely” likely to vote.

How Members Decide Their Vote

Members were asked to describe the decision-making process that went into their vote:

Those who will vote on the issue (26%) slightly outnumber those who vote the party (23%), but the majority say they take both party and issue into account when they vote (52%). It is interesting to note that those who vote the issue over the party seem to be less reliable voters than those who vote for the party:

There is a natural and not surprising correlation between whether one votes the issue or the party and whether one will switch parties if one’s issue is not supported:

It is the supporters of the two smaller opposition parties who are most likely to say they vote for the issue rather than the party.

Likelihood of Switching Parties

Members were asked if they would switch parties if their favourite issue (economic stewardship, primarily) was not supported. Overall, opinion is divided on this issue, although the majority (60%) tend towards switching parties:

Incidence of being likely to switch parties is highest in Atlantic Canada, among younger members, among Green Party supporters (and the NDP), among those not retired, among those who vote for reasons other than economic stewardship and among those who do not say they “definitely will” vote in the next election.

Those who vote issues other than economic stewardship are more likely to switch parties to get their issue supported:

Most of those who will not switch parties, will “definitely” vote next time and will vote on economic stewardship are conservative party supporters, and this group makes up the majority of CARP poll respondents.