Report prepared for bpostby Profacts

March 2012

Content

bpost – Omnibus March 2012 - Profacts 2

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In general, bpost wanted to learn more about the voting habits of the Belgian population. More specific, they wanted to gain insight into the

preferred communication channels for political parties.

Therefore, bpost added some questions to the Profacts omnibus of March 2012.

Background and objectives

bpost – Omnibus March 2012 - Profacts

Content

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Methodology and sample

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Online (CAWI)

DATACOLLECTION

N = 1568

*Sample weighted on age category

Language %

Dutch 58 %

French 42 %

Gender %

Female 52 %

Male 48 %

Age Category %

<30 21 %

30-39 20 %

40-49 21 %

50-59 20 %

60+ 18 %

bpost – Omnibus March 2012 - Profacts

Content

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In general, people’s voting behaviour depends on situational factors in terms of party and person. Still, people switch persons more often than parties.

bpost – Omnibus March 2012 - Profacts 7Base: Total Sample (n=1568)

“Do you always vote for the same party/person?”

No specific differences between subgroups on gender and language were found, compared with total group.

In general, people’s voting behaviour is rather predisposed. Written communication can have both a negative or a positive effect.

bpost – Omnibus March 2012 - Profacts 8

“Has any form of written communication (letter, folder etc.) received by a political party had an influence on your voting behaviour in the past?”

Base: Total Sample (n=1568)

For 39%, the communication had an impact

16% negative

23% positive

No specific differences between subgroups on gender and language, compared with total group.

In general, people who are interested in politics predominantly follow up political debates in media in order to get information in election times.

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“Imagine there are elections, where would you get information concerning which person/party to vote for?”

Base: Total Sample (n=1568)

Younger people use websites more often as a source of inspiration during election times, while older people find personalized letters more important.

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60+ (N=282) 50-59 (N=314) 40-49 (N=329) <30 (N=329) 30-39 (N=314)

“Imagine there are elections, where would you get information concerning which person/party to vote for?”

Base: Total Sample (n=1568)

One in three seems not interested in politics. If they could choose one medium through which they can be contacted, it would be a folder (14%), personal letter (11%) or message in the press (10%)

bpost – Omnibus March 2012 - Profacts 11

“In general, how do you want to be approached by politicians?”

Base: n =1568

“If you could choose one medium via which you are approached politicians, hat would it

be?”

Older people prefer personalized letters more.

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60+ (N=282) 50-59 (N=314) 40-49 (N=329) <30 (N=329) 30-39 (N=314)

Base: Total Sample (n=1568)

“If you could choose one medium via which you are approached by politicians, what would it be?”

Voting habits and mail preference:Conclusions

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1. 60% of the respondents state that their voting behaviour depends on situational factors in terms of party and person. Still, people switch persons more often than parties.

3. In general, people who are interested in politics predominantly follow up political debates in media in order to get information in election times. In line with the spirit of their generation, younger people use websites more often as a source of inspiration, while older people find personalized letters more important.

2. Written communication is no clear situational factor for 32% of the respondents. Still, it can have both a negative (16%) or a positive effect (23%) on voting behaviour, especially for older people.

bpost – Omnibus March 2012 - Profacts

4. 30% indicated they don’t specifically want to be contacted by political parties as politics doesn’t interest them. However, those who want to be contacted specificly mentioned door-2-door folders, personalized letters. However, the differences between the different media are small.

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Men (n=752) Women (n=816)

Dutch (n=903) French (n=665)

No specific differences between subgroups on gender and language, compared with total group.

“Do you always vote for the same party/person?”

Base: Total Sample (n=1568)

No specific differences between subgroups on age, compared with total group.

bpost – Omnibus March 2012 - Profacts 15

60+ (N=282) 50-59 (N=314) 40-49 (N=329) <30 (N=329) 30-39 (N=314)

“Do you always vote for the same party/person?”

Base: Total Sample (n=1568)

bpost – Omnibus March 2012 - Profacts 16

Men (n=752) Women (n=816)

Dutch (n=903) French (n=665)

No specific differences between subgroups on gender and language, compared with total group.

“Has any form of written communication (letter, folder etc.) received by a political party had an influence on your voting behaviour in the past?”

Base: Total Sample (n=1568)

No specific differences between subgroups on age. Although, written communication has got more effect on older people than young ones, both in a negative and a positive way.

bpost – Omnibus March 2012 - Profacts 17

60+ (N=282) 50-59 (N=314) 40-49 (N=329) <30 (N=329 30-39 (N=314)

“Has any form of written communication (letter, folder etc.) received by a political party had an influence on your voting behaviour in the past?”

Base: Total Sample (n=1568)

French (n=665)

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Men (n=752) Women (n=816)

Dutch (n=903)

“Imagine there are elections, where would you get information concerning which person/party to vote for?”

Base: Total Sample (n=1568)

No clear differences between men and woman, nor between North and South with respect to information sources in election times.

French (n=665)

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Men (n=752) Women (n=816) Dutch (n=903)

Base: Total Sample (n=1568)

No clear differences between men and women, although men are lot less interested in politics than women. South appreciates personalized letters more than North.

“In general, how do you want to be approached by politicians?”

Younger people are less interested in politics and mention social networks more often than older people. The latter attach more importance to personalized letters.

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60+ (N=282) 50-59 (N=314) 40-49 (N=329) <30 (N=329) 30-39 (N=314)

Base: Total Sample (n=1568)

“In general, how do you want to be approached by politicians?”

French (n=665)

bpost – Omnibus March 2012 - Profacts 21

Men (n=752) Women (n=816) Dutch (n=903)

Base: Total Sample (n=1568)

No clear differences between men and woman, North and South.

“If you could choose one medium via which you are approached by politicians, what would it be?”