Voting Behavior in Candidate Selection: A Study in Rangpur Division

Authors/ Publisher: Md. Jubaer Ibna Taher

Abstract:

Abstract

Voting behavior is getting importance day by day due to the emerging culture of people centric democratic practices. Numbers of factor influence people's behavior when they select a particular candidate or party to vote for. Even choices may vary regarding local and national level elections.Across that line of comparison, this study aims to find which personal traits of the candidates are considered most by the voters when they decide whom to vote. Moreover, this study, in general, tries to explore the demands of the voters to their preferred candidates. This study is limited to four districts of Rangpur Division namely Rangpur, Kurigram, Thakurgaon and Dinajpur. After a questionnaire survey on220people and statistical analyzing of the data, this study finds that majority voters prefer personal image and previous performance of the candidate in both local government and national elections. In the national election, in particular,candidate’s affiliation to the party alsoholdshigh rank priority in voter’s preference. Meanwhile, given the demands of the voters to their candidates, price control of goods and services, and quality education almost jointly come first in the priority list.