The 2017 Northern Ireland General Election Study

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The case for support is for a comprehensive study of voting patterns, attitudes and priorities of the electorate at the 2017 Northern Ireland General Election, deploying questionnaire based face-to-face interviews with 1,100 electors - a separate but 'sister' study to the British Election Survey which only covers England, Scotland and Wales. The research will survey opinion in Northern Ireland at a time of considerable political uncertainty/crisis. Since the 2015 general election, there have been very significant developments. Public opinion needs examining to see what Northern Ireland's electorate want in response to a) the possible collapse of the devolved Executive and Assembly, currently not sitting amid stalemate b) the management of Brexit - opposed by a majority in Northern Ireland - and concerns over a 'hard' or 'soft' border, the Common Travel Area and replacement of part of the Good Friday Agreement c) the first-ever loss of a unionist majority, at the recent Assembly election and d) controversies over demands for Irish language and same-sex marriage legislation. The election takes place with Northern Ireland in political crisis. There is a real prospect of a return to direct rule from Westminster. The survey will be based on a representative sample of 1,100 electors from across Northern Ireland.The study will provide a comprehensive study of how the electorate voted in the 2017 General Election in Northern Ireland - and why electors voted the way they did (or declined to vote). It will analyse the basis of voting behaviour and party choice of the Northern Ireland electorate at the first General Election since the Brexit referendum and amid political crisis resulting in the hiatus in devolved government. Is ethno-religious identity still virtually all? The research will assess whether voters back the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly and to measure support for devolved power-sharing relative to direct rule from Westminster. The study will also analyse attitudes to EU withdrawal. What does the Northern Ireland electorate want regarding a 'hard' or 'soft' border and a common travel area with the Irish Republic and how should the region - a large beneficiary of EU finance - respond to Brexit? The study will measure the extent to which, if at all, the sectarian/confessional ethno-religious divide in Northern Ireland politics is being breached by votes for candidates from the 'rival' community - and to examine the reasons for communal and cross-community voting.it will examine views on social/moral issues such as abortion rights (still virtually prohibited in Northern Ireland) and same-sex marriage (opposed by the largest party in Northern Ireland, the DUP). The survey will explore the electorate's views on a range of post-conflict issues, as truth and reconciliation commissions, support for victims, reform of the judicial system and integration of Northern Ireland, via, e.g. the removal of 'peace walls'; and 'mixed' schooling.