AWARENESS AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN OF BANGLADESH: A FIELD STUDY ON SELECTED AREA

Abstract

The candidates in the elections are always dependent on the voters during elections. When the elections are held, the candidates appear in front of the voters with a number of public welfare programs so that they can get their support. Various political parties and candidates’ campaign for votes in the election. Generally, they use different media and techniques for campaigning. Even at the time of campaigning for the election, candidates spend huge money only to get people’s support. As the media of advertisement posters, public meetings, procession, Facebook, television, and magazines are used for election campaigning. They carryout month-long activities for winning the elections. In addition to the campaign, voters are influenced in many ways. In this research, it is analyzed that how voters are influenced by campaigning process. The overall objective of the study is to examine the voting behavior of the citizens of Bangladesh. Mainly the paper is (1) to find out the nature of election campaign in the electoral system of Bangladesh; (2) to understand the electoral campaigning process; and (3) to find out the behavior of the voters. The research was fretful with the reasons why citizens vote the way they do. That study has diagnosed the trend of election campaign and voting behavior. The changing pattern of voting behavior influenced by some elements. As a medium of promotion, advertisements in posters, public meetings, procession, Facebook or TV magazine are used by the candidates. They carry out month-long activities in campaigning and spend a lot of money behind it. It was one of the goals that to find that the campaign has adverse effects in public life, and what is the image of voters’ voting because of the campaign. To find out the behavior of the voters, researcher has selected some questions, such as: Is there a voter who is influenced by some issues to choose one from the contesting candidates? Again, why the voters choose the candidate? These questions involve complex psychological issues. In order to analyze the awareness and attitudes towards election campaign, the required information was obtained from 208 respondents from three areas through questionnaire. That information will be shown through tables.