Ethnographic Research
Investigative Research Leads to Key Findings
Participants for ethnographic interviews, all within the 20-something range, participate in an active interview designed to better understand more about their voting preferences and habits.
Ryan W
Age: 24
Highest education
achieved: Undergrad
(History & Geology).
GIS Adv. Certification.
Current employment:
F/T GIS Analyst. P/T Administrator
for solar farming company.
Katie L
Age: 21
Highest education
achieved: Third year undergrad.
Current employment:
F/T college student.
Ross C
Age: 24
Highest education
achieved:
Undergrad (English).
Current employment: P/T.
Emma S
Age: 22
Highest education
achieved: Undergrade (English Creative Writing
& Psychology).
Current employment:
F/T Marketing.
Kaylee C
Age: 29
Highest education
achieved: Associate Degree.
Current employment:
F/T Marketing Coordinator.
P/T beauty consultant.
Questions
Each participant is asked this set of questions designed to learn more through interview-style discussions.
1.
Did you vote in the last election (Nov 2020)? Reminder prompts if needed: This was a Presidential election year as well as a City Council & Mayoral Election for Richmond City residents. For surrounding Henrico County, the election included candidates for Senate, Constitutional Amendments, and House Representative.
Follow-up: If no, why not?
2.
Have you ever voted in a non-Presidential election year?
Or, would you?
3.
Do you have friends/family/colleagues in your peer group that have shared their thoughts on why they do or do not vote?
4.
How do you learn about the candidates? This can include attend speaker series/debates, news broadcasting, online sources, word-of-mouth, fliers, etc.
5.
What about voting would you like to see improved?
Do you have a suggestion?
6.
Thinking ahead in life, what would keep you from voting?
Key Findings
Why I don’t vote/does my vote matter?
Two party system with choices with neither candidate being one I truly like
In a district that is predominantly ”red” or “blue”
Removing my vote could lead to a changed bi-partisan system and/or better candidates selected by the parties
Very busy
Can’t leave work
Focused on academics and not the political climate
Topics do not affect me or pertain to me or cover topics I am interested in
Knowledge about candidates
Presidential debates (entertaining & difficult to watch), Twitter, friends, and/or read candidates’ website
Similar political stance as parents
Why I do vote
Responsibility as a citizen
Important - Don’t “waste” a vote
Suggested improvements
Make Election Day a Federal Holiday
Ease of transportation to polling place (i.e.: multiple bus routes is challenging)
Expanded in-person voting (i.e.: Covid-19 allowed for polling places to be open for days in 2020)
Absentee ballots are intimidating and/or stressful:
Need confirmation that it arrived; that my vote counted
Limit strong language (i.e.: “Federal Offense,” “Penalty of Law”)
Revise system (i.e.: Winner-take-all to Parliamentary System)