FACTORS AFFECTING THE VOTING

BEHAVIOR OF YOUTHS IN BANAO, BAUKO, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE

John Ben C. Gawec

SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE LIBERAL ART

MOUNTAIN PROVINCE STATE POLYTECHNIC
COLLEGE, BONTOC MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIRMENTS
FOR THHE DEGREE OF

BACHELOR OF ARTS
(Political Science)

June 2020

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 Republic of the Philippines
Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
Liberal Arts Department
Bontoc Campus

Teacher Education Department

Approval Sheet

This research entitled, “FACTORS AFFECTING THE VOTING BEHAVIOR

OF THE YOUTHS IN BANAO, BAUKO, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE”, prepared and
submitted by John Ben L. Gawec, has been accepted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements of the degree Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

AUGOSTO B. CACAP
Research Adviser

COMMITTEE ON ORAL EXAMINATION

LYDIA C. BUDOD
Chairperson

GERALDINE D. SEGSEG ALLEN PATINGAN

Member
Member

Final Defense : - - - - - -

ACCEPTED and APPROVED in partial fulfillment for the degree Bachelor of

Arts in Political Science.

LYDIA C. BUDOD
Chairperson, Liberal Arts Department

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Title Page………………………………………………………………....... i

Approval Sheet ……………………………………………………………. ii

Table of Contents…………………………………………………………... iii

List of Table………………………………………………………………... iv

List of Figure………………………………………………………………. v

INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………. 1

Background of the Study……………………………………………. 1

Conceptual Framework……………………………………………... 6

Statement of the Problem…………………………………………… 12

Hypothesis of the Study…………………………………………….. 12

METHODOLOGY………………………………………………………… 13

Research Design…………………………………………………….. 13

Population and Locale of the Study………………………………… 13

Data Collection Instruments………………………………………… 14

Data Collection Procedure………………………………………….. 14

Treatment of Data…………………………………………………... 15

LITERATURE CITED…………………………………………………….. 16

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iv
 Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

Background of Study

One of the given rights and responsibilities of every citizen is the right to

suffrage. Suffrage rules regulate who can vote and this, in turn, influences the interests

served by elected politicians. While today we associate democracy with equal and

universal suffrage, historically the power to elect or appoint representatives was the

privilege of narrow elites. Suffrage rules focused on specific characteristics of individual

such as ownership of property, payment of taxes, residency and gender (Aidt, S. &

Mooney G., 2014)

The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines Article V, Sec. 1 speaks

of the right of every Filipino who are at the legal age to suffrage. Suffrage may be

exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at

least eighteen years of age, and who shall resided in the Philippines for at least one year,

and in the place wherein they propose to vote, for at least six months immediately

preceding the election. No literacy, property or other substantive requirement shall be

imposed on the exercise of suffrage.

In the Philippines, the right to vote is being seen in the act of election. An election

is a democratic proves in which the citizens by the age of 8 and above formally decide

and vote on who has the right to hold public office and make public policies and

decisions concerning the people’s overall welfare. This kind of suffrage being practiced

is called electoral system.

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 An electoral system which can also be called voting system is a system used to

determine the kind of necessary votes and also calculate votes and then translates these

votes into seats or positions in the government. Different electoral systems benefit

politicians so that they can campaign in a way to get the needed votes and it also benefits

the voters by giving them variety of choices which can influence their decision making

(Calilung, 2016).

A democratic government cannot be realized without elections and these elections

embody the will of the people. The election process dictates the future of a nation

therefore it needs to be systematically executed and prove efficient for reliable result by

means of an electoral system. Electoral system, in layman’s term, convert the votes cast

during an election into seats in the government awarded to winning parties and favored

political aspirants. These systems determine how voters are to be tallied in order for the

allocation of seats.

Ayee (1997) asserted that elections are indispensable to democracies because they

provide an opportunity for citizens to endorse or reject an incumbent. In democracies an

election offers the citizenry an avenue to choose their representatives; it is an act which is

fundamental to the exercise of legitimate authority. Additionally, many citizens view

participating in the democratic system through voting as the single most important—and

often the only—political act that they will ever undertake.

In elections, qualified citizens cast a vote, with each vote considered of equal

value among peers regardless of social status, annual income, education and gender.

Hence, as election is a right regardless of factors and variables is a free will of the

individual.

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 The wisdom of conducting elections is perceived as the democratic method of

amalgamating collective intelligence from the majority of the electorate. The opinion of

the masses is adhered to on whom they will allow the trust of the populace and grant

public assent on the authority to govern. Elections empower the people and enable them

to exercise control over the government that is “of the people, by the people, for the

people”. These elections determine who is to be bestowed public trust in terms of

capabilities of the political aspirant and determination for public service. The legitimacy

of a government is due to its formation by public vote or preference, giving consent to

their authority.

Antwi (2018) argued that election in a democratic country being free and fair

elections are essential as it enables the masses to elect their preferred leaders. However,

given the necessity of this political ritual in conferring legitimate political authority, the

question of what shapes voters’ political preferences—mainly how and why citizens vote

—has long been germane in the study of political science. This political preference is

shaped also by different voting behaviors.

Voting behavior refers to human activity in the context of elections. It is defined

as a set of related personal and electoral actions, which may include participation in

electoral campaigns, voter turnout, and choosing for whom to vote (Bratton 2013).

Voters’ choices are likely influenced by a multiplicity of factors. For example, research

have shown that the electorate may determine their votes on the basis of one or more of

the following considerations: (1) the performance of the government in power, (2) the

personality of candidates, (3) the voters’ positions or orientations on specific issues, (4)

partisanship or party affiliation, (5) the state of the economy, and/or (6) the identity or

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ethnic background of the candidate. These considerations are shaped by short-term and

long-term influences. The short-term influences are specific to a particular election and

are susceptible to substantial shifts from one election to the next. Examples of this

include the state of the economy, the government’s performance, or the candidate’s

personality. However, other factors, such as party loyalty are more stable in the long-run.

(Hazarika 2015; Prysby and Scavo 1993; Heywood 2002).

Ball and Peters (2005) also stated that mass media is a potential influencer on

voters choice. The mass media, particularly radio and television, have grown increasingly

important in influencing electoral outcomes. In contemporary times, political parties and

politicians have effectively utilized social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to

convey their campaign messages to the populace. The media plays a crucial role in

making information readily available to the voters, upon which they base their voting

decisions. Nonetheless, the media has also become a channel for spreading false stories,

which tend to negatively affect the electoral behavior of voters (Antwi, 2018).

Voting preference is to a greater extent influenced by individual membership in a

particular social group, as well as the economic and social position of the group

(Anderson and Yaish 2003; Thomassen 1994; Heywood 2002). Thus, people who share

the same identity as far as their social class, religion, region, or ethnicity are concerned

tend to vote as a bloc, in such a way that voting for a particular candidate or party

becomes an inherent extension of the voter’s social identity (Andersen and Heath 2003).

Consequently, social groups vote for the candidate or party that is perceived as

representing their interests or that is most likely to prioritize their needs (Adjei 2012).

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 Moreover, through political socialization, the political culture, values, and norms

of the older generations are passed along to the younger generations (Sarlamanov and

Jovanoski 2014). This socialization is most intense in childhood, during which most of

the political attitudes are formed. At this early stage, the basic values that determine the

political lives of voters are learned within the family, primarily through the relationship

between parent and child. Thus, people inherit their political preferences from their

families, and tend to vote as their families do (Sarlamanov and Jovanoski 2014).

Nonetheless, some scholars contend that social groups continue to provide

identity for various categories of voters. For example, Heywood (2002) and Evans (1999)

are of the view that social class remains an important factor influencing electoral choice.

Additionally, some scholars also link voters’ attraction to a candidate to their

political parties or issue positions. Accordingly, people vote for candidates not

necessarily because of the candidate’s traits, but rather they vote for a candidate because

of his or her position on certain issues or party affiliation. In essence, it suggests that

people’s partisanship influences their evaluations of candidates and electoral issues

(Campbell, Converse, Miller, and Stokes 1960). Furthermore, it indicates that voter

choice is primarily based on party loyalty and not on evaluations of the candidate’s

capacity to deliver while in office (Lawrence 1978).

Niemi and Weisberg (1984) argue that while parties and candidates can influence

electoral outcomes, issues in their view are the major determinant of voter choice because

all parties and candidates put up issues during the campaign on which the electorate to

makes a choice. However, they equally admit that, there are instances when voters make

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up their mind as to which party or candidate they will support before the campaign even

starts.

Likewise, it can be noted that there have been actions of alternate political parties

and change of preferences. Miroff, Seidelman, and Swanstrom (1999) identify campaign

messages, the mass media, and the personality and image of individual candidates as the

main factors that determine voters’ choice in American elections. They posit that

although most voters may have partisan affiliations with particular parties, the majority of

the voters are not blind loyalists and could be moved to vote for other parties if they find

the personality and campaign issues of the candidate attractive.

Hence, in this study, the foregoing grounds would speak of the goal of

investigating what could have been the factors that shapes the political preferences and

voting behaviors of the youths of today’s generation in choosing their leaders.

As stated by Kurtbaş (2015) factors that influence voting behavior in particular

and voter’s behavior in general is an important subject that is widely addressed in

political science and sociology. As the factors that influence voters’ preferences are better

understood, politics get closer to the ideal of creating a “common good” for the people,

settling issues and ensuring social welfare and integrity. Therefore, whenever politics,

which is the only method in this framework, has left it to other methods to fulfill these

goals, the price was paid by the “human suffering” which is always the price for wrong

politics. This study aims to understand the factors that influence the political choices of

voters and the extent of their influence. It is believed that the data obtained in this study

will contribute to the literature of political science and of other relevant areas.

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Furthermore, it will give interested parties an opportunity to better understand the voter –

with respect to the elections.

Conceptual Framework

Political Socialization

Greenstein (1969) defined political socialization as is a process of learning about

politics. People are taught to participate or not to participate. They are taught what is

proper behavior, how to interact with other people and with government. In developing

countries people may be taught they have a right, perhaps even a duty, to participate. In

most political socialization, therefore, involves learning, teaching, accepting and

transmitting the group values and norms.

As a working definition, political socialization is the continuing process by which

people acquire motivations, information, norms, attitudes, and values about their society,

economy, political system, and their role or place in these. People become members of

their political system through political socialization. They learn what is expected of them

and how to live and interact with society and the political system.

Political socialization is the gradual learning of the norms, attitudes, and behavior

accepted and practiced by the ongoing political system. ”Its goal “is to train or develop

individuals that they become well-functioning members of the political society,” that is, a

person “who accepts (internalizes) society’s political norms and who will then transmit

them to future generations” (Winter and Bellows).

Calilung (2016) listed the agents for political socialization to include family,

school, religion, peer group, the mass media and the government. The direct family is the

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most powerful and lasting agent of political socialization (Hyman, 1959). The political

beliefs of most individuals are deeply influenced by the behaviours and beliefs they

experience in the family environment. Before individuals are capable of making

judgments for themselves, they have absorbed perceptions about politics from

conversations overheard within the family. Secondly, schools can be the state’s most

valuable agent of political socialization. Schools offer the opportunity for sustained and

high controlled contact with the students while they are at the extremely impressionable

age when many political beliefs can still be molded.

Religious group transmit definite political preferences to their practitioners.

Churches help develop strong belief systems that guide a person’s views on social

policies such as abortion as well as larger worldview. Political beliefs among religions

vary. Traditionally, Roman Catholics and Jews have been characterized as being more

liberal and Protestants more conservative. In the Philippines, the Catholic Bishop

Conference of the Philippines has been vocal on some socio political issues.

As the importance of parent’s diminishes and after formal schooling ends, peer

groups become an increasingly significant influence on people’s political socialization. In

fact, if both parents work, children may be socialized more by peers than by families.

Meanwhile, the Mass Media – televisions, radio, newspapers and magazines, and the

Internet have an influence on the views of adults and children alike. For most people, the

media are the major sources of political information and strongly influence our beliefs.

The world we experience through media can control our actions. For example,

suburbanites are frequently afraid to go downtown because their knowledge of the city

often comes from television news.

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 Further, the government itself is an agent of socialization. Many government

activities are intended to explain or display the government to the public, always

designed to build support and loyalty. However, government attempts at overt

socialization (deliberate government policy to teach culture) generally fail if their values

are at odds with those of the family.

Political socialization in this study would help in understanding the voting

behavior and preferences of the youths in choosing their leaders. Political socialization

would be the basis for the different indicators to know the factors that affect the

preferences of the youths.

Voting Behavior

Psephology is the scientific study of voting behavior. However, in most cases it is

difficult to say what elections mean, it is also difficult to predict voting behavior. There

are many influences on voting behavior, particularly in short term. One of these

influences is the state of the economy. Particularly in a Third World country like

Philippines, during elections there is always a very strong link between the government’s

popularity and economic variables, such as unemployment, inflation, and disposable

income. Hence, Filipino administrations always try to create a false sense of economic

prosperity during campaign season by increasing government spending, and particularly

by creating employment opportunities. Other influences are candidate personalities, party

effectiveness, opinion polls, and the mass media.

Rule (2014) defined voting behavior as an encompassing behavior for both the

actions and inactions of people regarding electoral participation, as well as for whom to

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support if one decides to engage in the voting process. It is defined as a set of related

personal and electoral actions, which may include participation in electoral campaigns,

voter turnout, and choosing for whom to vote. Therefore, the study of voting behavior

constitutes an attempt at unpacking the context in which voters make decisions about

candidates and parties. Such a study opens a window to the minds of the millions of

people who are involved in the political process as voters.

According to Economic theory of Democracy by Anthony Downs (1957), voting

is an expression of self-interest on the part of voters. They select parties in the same way

that consumers select goods or services that are offered for sale. The problem with this

theory is that candidates are “sold” through voting, political campaigning, and

propaganda. This being so, election results do not reflect the interests of the mass of

voters. Frequently, elections merely reflect the resources and finances of the competing

parties.

Downs theorizes that people will vote if the returns outweigh the costs; in other

words, if the stakes are important enough. Accordingly, the poor and uneducated are the

least likely to vote; while the middle-aged, better- educated professionals are most likely

to vote. The difference in voting behavior between upper-class voters and working class

nonvoters is based on the belief by the former that their votes will make a difference. In

terms of age, those who are less likely to vote are the young voters, that is, those 18-25

years old. In terms of residence, rural residents are less likely to vote than city dwellers.

Voting behavior in the Philippines is not easily identified as in other countries.

Usually the social categories used are: Class voting which include blue-collar workers

tend to vote for parties that have close connections with the labor unions. The middle and

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upper classes are more politically conservative; Regional voting which include Filipino

voters have a pattern of voting for candidates who belong to their own island groupings:

Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao. In addition, Filipinos exhibit a regional voting pattern,

such as those exhibited by the Iocanos, Ilongos, Bicolanos, and Cebuanos; Religious

blocs which is predominantly Catholic, all elected Presidents have been Catholic. The

only exception was a Protestant General; but he was elected because he was the official

candidate of the administration party, and was therefore supported by the major Catholic

“kingmakers” of the administration; Age groups which include young voters who do not

necessarily for radical parties. Instead, they vote for what is most attractive to their

generation, during a particular campaign season. For example, in the 1992 presidential

elections, for the first time, Filipino youth voted as a bloc, in favor of an independent

reformist candidate who mirrored the independence of mind, energy, and iconoclasm of

the youth; Gender which include women who are not necessarily more traditional and

conservative than men; Ethnic minorities, however there is yet no significant voting

pattern among the voters in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and

the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); and the Urban voting which include the

voting pattern in big cities is dictated by the presence of students, squatters, and factory

workers. Cities serve as concentrations of the working class votes from the factories and

squatters areas, and the student votes from the colleges and universities (Santiago, 2002).

Voting behavior in this study is the concept that is being dealt for. It talks of the

factors affecting the preferences of the youths in choosing the political leaders.

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 Input Process Output

 Political  Data gathering Identified:

socialization
 Tallying of the data  Factors affecting the
 Voting Behavior gathered voting behavior of
the youths in Lower
 Survey  Statistical analysis Bauko
questionnaires to of the survey
gauge the factors questionnaire  Extent/ impact of
and the extent of effect of the factors
factors affecting affecting the voting
their voting behavior of the
behavior youths in Lower
Bauko

Figure 1. Paradigm of the study

The inputs of the study include the following concepts: political socialization;

voting behavior; and, the survey questionnaires to gauge the factors and the extent of

factors affecting their voting behavior . The factors affecting the voting behavior of the

voters in Banao, Bauko, Mountain Province will be assessed through a quantitative date

assessment tool after the floating of the survey questionnaires, tallying of the answers and

the analysis using the statistical tool. Basing it from the result of the quantitative data

gathered, the factors and the extent or impact of the factors affecting the voting behavior

of the students are being identified.

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 Statement of the Problem

This study seeks to investigate the factors or the variables that affect the voting

behavior of the voters in Banao, Bauko, Mountain Province. Specifically, it seeks to

answer the following questions:

1. What are the factors affecting the voting behavior of the voter in Banao, Bauko,

Mountain Province?

2. What factor greatly influence the voting behavior of the youths in Banao,

Bauko, Mountain Province?

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 CHAPTER 2

DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

Research Design

This study will be using a quantitative research design. Bryman (2001) argues that

quantitative research approach is the research that places emphasis on numbers and figures in the

collection and analysis of data. Imperatively, quantitative research approach can be seen as being

scientific in nature. The use of statistical data for the research descriptions and analysis reduces

the time and effort which the researcher would have invested in describing his result.

This study will focus on the factors as identified using the agent of political socialization

in the selected barangays in Banao, Bauko, Mountain Province.

Locale and Population

This study will be conducted in Barangay Banao, Bauko, Mountain Province.

Banao is a barangay in the municipality of Bauko, in Mountain Province. Its population as

determined by the 2015 census was 1,824.This represented 5.87% of the total population of

Bauko.

Bauko, officially the municipality of Bauko is a 4th class municipality in the province of

Mountain Province, Philippines. According to the2015 census, it has a population of 31,065

people. Bauko is politically subdivided into 22 barangays, divided into upper and lower areas.

The research will focus on 5 selected barangays of Bauko wherein the population was

determined by 2015 census. The study shall be accommodating 100 sample respondents. The

researcher will be accommodating citizens aged 18-30.

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Data Gathering Tool

The data collection tool is a researcher-made survey questionnaire that will gauge the

factors affecting the voting behavior of the voters in Banao, Bauko, Mountain Province and the

extent of effect of the factors on their voting behavior. The concepts on the survey questionnaire

were lifted from the Agents of Political Socialization.

Since the survey questionnaire is modified and researcher-made, it will undergo a validity

test by the researchers’ professors who are specializing in political science. Once tested valid, the

researcher will already administer it to the main participants.

Data Gathering Procedures

This research study will be abiding by the formal procedure and will observe ethical

considerations. Before the formal gathering of the data needed for the study, the researcher will

be sending first a formal letter to the Punong Barangay Banao, Bauko Mountain Province asking

him a permission to let the researcher undertake the study in the barangay. An explanation of the

nature and purpose of the study will be versed in the letter.

The researcher will also write formal letter to the target participants requesting them to

answer the questionnaires. Scripted in the formal communication will be the objective of the

research study as well as the importance of their participation in the attainment of such objective.

Also, within the formal communication will be the assurance for the participants that their

answers will be treated with confidentiality as well as informing them that they will not be forced

to answer the questionnaire if it is against their belief.

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 Once the permission will be granted, the researcher will be administering the survey-

questionnaire. The researcher will also be setting the schedule according to the time that the

participants are available. It is a must that there will be no questions unanswered.

Treatment of Data

The data collected from the survey-questionnaire will be tallied and will be treated

statistically. It will be tabulated, interpreted and analyzed using frequency counts and weighted

mean.

Using the formula below, the weighted mean will be computed to know the factors

affecting the voting behavior of the voters in Banao, Bauko, Mountain Province. This will give a

general level deducted from the participant’s knowledge and awareness of the different attributes

relating to the voting behavior

Σ = the sum of all data

w = the weights.
x = the value.

Table 1 presents the statistical limits that will be used to determine the factors affecting

the voting behavior of the voters in Banao, Bauko Mountain Province basing it from the

computed weighted mean. The weighted mean will be patterned on the range given then with the

proper description.

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Table 1. Statistical limits used to determine the factors affecting the voting behavior of voters

RANGE DESCRIPTIVE MEASURES INTERPRETATION

3.50-4.00 Always Strongly Agree

2.50-3.49 Often Agree

1.50-2.49 Rarely Fairly Agree

1.0-1.49 Never Does not agree

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 Appendices A

(Formal Communication)

Republic of the Philippines

Mountain Province State Polytechnic College
Liberal Arts Department
Bontoc Campus

01 June 2020

HON. FERNANDO CADOY

Punong Barangay
Banao, Bauko
Mountain Province

SIR:
Warm greetings!

I, John Ben L. Gawec, a graduating students of Mountain Province State Polytechnic College, is
conducting a research study entitled, “Factors Affecting the Voting Behavior of the youths in
Banao, Bauko, Mountain Province.”

In this regard, I am humbly asking for your approval for me to conduct the research study in your
barangay. Rest assured that all the information to be gathered will be treated confidentially.

We appreciate your favorable approval. Thank you and my warmest regards.

Your truly,

JOHN BEN L. GAWEC

Researcher

NOTED:

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 Appendix B
(Survey Questionnaire Form)

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