VALU 1999 - SVT exit poll survey European parliament election 1999

This exit poll survey was carried out in connection with the election to the European parliament on June 13, 1999.

In VALU - Swedish exit poll surveys - voters leaving polling stations are asked by public service broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT) to fill in a questionnaire and put it anonymously in a sealed box. After collecting and processing the responses, Sveriges Television is able to present an election forecast and an analysis of the reasons underlying the outcome of the election in it´s Election Night broadcast. The surveys are referred to as VALU, an abbreviation for vallokalsundersökning, Swedish for exit poll survey. The first exit poll survey in Sweden was carried out at the parliamentary election in 1991. Since then similar studies have been carried out in connection with all Parliamentary elections, referendums and elections to the European Parliament.

Voters leaving the polling stations were asked to fill in a questionnaire including questions on: party voted for; vote on individual or party; time for decision how to vote; party voted for in the general election 1998 and at the European Parliament election in 1995; party voted for if a general election was held the same day; for or against a Swedish EMU-membership; opinion on the Swedish EU-membership; confidence in Swedish politicians; confidence in the decision-making process within the EU; placement on a political left-right scale; gender, age, occupational group and union membership. The respondents also had to indicate the importance of the policy in EU-questions, achievements in Swedish politics, old party loyalities and the candidates when deciding how to vote. They also had to state the importance of following issues: environment, economy, employment, agriculture, peace in Europe, national independence, EMU, refugees/immigration, enlargement of the EU, terms of enterprise, equality between men and women, defence, democracy within the EU and social welfare. Furthermore they had to state how satisfied they were with the way democracy works in Sweden and within the European Union.

Purpose:

Provide analytical support for the election night broadcast on Swedish television during the election night, and for other post-election analysis.