JAMAICANS ARE ready to go to the polls if a general election is called as most persons interviewed in a recent poll indicate that they are registered to vote.The poll was conducted on behalf of the Gleaner Company by Don Anderson and his team of researchers from Market Research Services Limited. Fieldwork was carried out February 3-11, 2005, and involved interviews with 1,000 persons aged 18 years and over in all parishes.
REPRESENTATIVE
The sample was highly representative of all the various demographic groupings of age, gender and socio-economic standing and the findings are therefore indicative of the national opinions of people within each of these segments.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2%. Over 76% of all persons that were interviewed in the poll indicate that they are registered to vote.
Voter registration is highest among older persons and significantly lower among younger persons. Whereas over 80% of all persons over the age of 25 say that they are registered, just 51% of those between the ages of 18-25 are registered. It points to a continuing reluctance of young persons to readily embrace the political process.
INTENT TO REGISTER
All those who were not registered were asked to indicate whether they intend to have themselves registered. Fewer than half of these persons indicate that they intend to do so. Even amongst the 18-24 age group where the incidence of registration was lowest, just 47 per cent say that they will have themselves registered to vote. Those who do not intend to get themselves registered do not appear to be overly interested in politics. Forty-two per cent say this quite clearly (that they are not interested in politics), whilst 24% feel that there are no benefits to be gained. These were their principal reasons for taking the position that they did.
