New research in partnership with the Victorian Electoral Commission
In one of the most ambitious studies of its type ever conducted, university researchers have partnered with the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) to better understand voting attitudes and behaviours across the Victorian electorate.
This large-scale study combines experimental data, aggregate-level data and individual-level data in order to provide a multi-dimensional picture of the character of (and motivations behind) voting in Victoria, Australia.
Professor of Politics Lisa Hill and Katharina Kretschmer from the School of Social Sciences at the University of Adelaide are working alongside Associate Professor Rodrigo Praino from Flinders University in cooperation with the VEC.
Their world leading research will have direct policy applications and significant social impact by improving the voting experience of a large number of voters.
What are they doing? An online voter survey following the 2022 Victorian state election as part of a larger research project on voting attitudes and behaviour in Victoria. The four to five year study, the largest and most ambitious of its kind ever carried out in the democratic world, is co-conducted with the VEC and includes four interconnected studies that comprehensively analyse trends and attitudes in local and state elections between 2020 to 2024. The research will result in recommendations that make voting more inclusive for voters at Victorian elections.
The study aims to:
- Achieve a thorough understanding of voting behaviour to enhance Victorian democracy and help the VEC improve the election experience for voters.
- Better understand how voters feel about voting and why they cast votes in certain ways.
- Enhance democracy by maximising citizen participation; ensuring that every voice is heard and that people’s preferences are properly taken into account.
The findings will be applicable to other Australian and international jurisdictions.