Post-election Survey: European and Local Government Elections 2014

Electoral behaviour in the European and municipal elections in 2014.

Topics: Participation in the European elections and municipal elections; voting by postal vote or at the polling station; voting decision in the European elections; vote for another party is conceivable; alternative vote; opinion on some general statements on politics (participation of many friends in the European elections, much interest in the European election campaign, outcome of the European elections personally important, difficult to understand what happens at the European level, Germany is well represented in Europe by Angela Merkel, no interest in the political views in Europe, Europe has coped well with the financial crisis, without the EU Germany would be worse off, knowledge of the different party goals to Europe, participation in elections as a civic duty in a democracy); party preference in the federal elections (Sunday question); political interest; importance of political levels (Bundestag, European Parliament, Landtag, municipal council); party competence: most suitable party to solve the problems in Germany, in Europe and in the federal state; evaluation of the EU membership of Germany as a good thing; general evaluation of the EU as a success; knowledge about the EU (number of members, percentage hurdle for the entry into the European Parliament, EU membership of Switzerland).

Local affairs: voting behaviour in the municipal elections (candidates from different parties and lists vs. all votes of a party or list; if voted for candidates of different parties: other party or list that won votes; party or list to which the respondent gave the most votes in the municipal or city elections; statements on local affairs (decisions of the city or municipal council indifferent, informed about local political events, no difference as to which local party has the majority, knowledge of the different party goals in the city or municipal council; party competence at local level: most suitable party for solving local problems; importance of various aspects for the personal voting decision (candidates, party statements on political issues, party campaign, long-term party commitment); role of the candidate or the party for the personal voting decision in the mayoral election; trust in the mayor of the city or municipality; knowledge of the mayor´s party affiliation; personal contact with local officials; satisfaction with the living conditions in the city or municipality; important local political issue; open naming of this important issue and personal concern; knowledge of the positions of the various local actors; local citizens´ initiatives; personal social activity at the place of residence in associations, initiatives, organisations or institutions; voluntary work; function or office; contact with the city or local government; evaluation of contact with the city or local government; sources of information on local affairs; frequency of use of local media concerning local affairs; party identification: party affiliation; strength of party affiliation; fundamental party affiliation or at the moment.

Demography: sex; age; school leaving certificate; denomination; frequency of church attendance; religiosity; employment status; previous employment; occupational status; household size; length of residence at main residence.

Additionally coded was: respondent ID; federal state; city size; weighting factors.