Sociology Plus
Deviant Voter Definition
A deviant voter refers to an individual who casts their political vote for a party that is perceived as not accurately reflecting or expressing their actual class membership. This concept highlights a misalignment between an individual’s socio-economic position and their political allegiance, often involving voting patterns that deviate from expected class-based political behaviour.
Manifestations of Deviance
The category encompasses various forms of class-based political divergence. For instance, it can be observed in the case of manual workers who may support right-wing or conservative parties, or conversely, middle-class professionals who align themselves with left-wing or workers’ parties. This voting behaviour suggests a complex negotiation between lived economic experience and political ideology.