Study title

This exit poll survey (VALU, an abbreviation for vallokalsundersökning) was carried out in connection with the parliamentary election on September 15, 2002. In VALU, voters leaving polling stations are asked by public service broadcaster Sveriges Television (SVT) to fill in a questionnaire and put it anonymously in a sealed box. After collecting and processing the responses, Sveriges Television is able to present an election forecast and an analysis of the reasons underlying the outcome of the election in its Election Night broadcast. The first exit poll survey in Sweden was carried out at the parliamentary election in 1991. Since then similar studies have been carried out in connection with all Parliamentary elections, referendums and elections to the European Parliament. Voters leaving the polling stations were asked to fill in a questionnaire including questions on: party voted for in the general and local elections; time for decision how to vote; preferred formation of the government after the election; party voted for in the general election 1998; opinion on the Swedish EU membership; vote intention in a referendum on Swedish EMU-membership; placement on a political left-right scale; confidence in Swedish politicians; gender, age, occupational group, union membership and church attendance. The respondents also had to indicate how important a number of items were for the decision how to vote, as well as the importance of the party leader. In VALU, Sweden (constituencies) is divided into geographical regions grouped around major university cities. In each of the regions, a university teacher is engaged as regional survey leader. The survey leaders act as supervisors for the field agents who carry out the survey in the polling stations and early voting stations respectively. All survey leaders have knowledge of statistical methodology. Purpose: Provide analytical support for the election night broadcast on Swedish television during the election night, and...