How Aussies pick their political idiots

Given Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's recent creep up the Preferred Prime Minister ladder, this look at how we pick our pollies is worth considering.

Have a geek at those happy-go-lucky two percenters who told the Essential Report that they just tick and forget!

Factors determining voting behaviour in Federal or State elections

Q. When you vote in Federal or State elections, which of the following best describes how you decide who to vote for?

The overall policies of the parties was the first most important factor that determines voting behaviour for 43% of those surveyed, for 26% having a general preference for a party was the primary factor determining their voting behaviour.

25% indicated that the second most important reason determining their voting behaviour are the overall policies of the parties, and 22% indicated that the parties' policies on particular issues is the second most important reason.

48% of Coalition voters and 42% of Labor voters indicated that it is the overall policies of the parties that determine how they vote in a Federal or State election. 35% of Labor voters and 31% of Coalition voters indicated that having a general preference for a party is the primary reason that best describes how they vote in a Federal or State election.

People aged 65 years and over were more likely to indicate it is party policy that primarily determine how they vote in a Federal or State election (57%), while those aged 35 – 44 were more likely were more likely to indicate it is a general preference for a party that determines how they will vote (32%).

Thanks to Clarencegirl for lobbing this info my way.