Today the majority of Russians who cast their vote for Boris Yeltsin in 1991 recognize that they would not have done that if they knew the results of his policies.
MOSCOW, June 9, 2011. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data about how many Russians supported Boris Yeltsin in the 1991 elections, what they would have done if they knew the outcome of his policies; as well as how the history of the country, in the Russian electorate`s view, would be shaped if Yeltsin did not win the 1991 election.
Remembering the presidential elections of 1991, most of Russians report they voted for Yeltsin (29% versus 12% who voted against him). Over the recent 15 years the share of those who supported Yeltsin has dramatically decreased (in 1996 - 49%). The remainder of respondents could not take part in elections due to age restrictions (36%), or refused to take part in the voting (12%).
Those who actively supported Yeltsin in 1991 were adherents of the Fair Russia party (43%), Muscovites and St.Petersburgians (39%), and 45-59-year-old respondents (49%). Those who voted against him were mainly those persons who support communists (38%), residents of small cities (15%) and elderly Russians (31%).
Russians gave their vote in favor of Yeltsin because they believed in what he promised in his political program (60%). Many Russians voted for Yeltsin because there were no suitable candidates in 1991 (8%); others voted for Yelsin because the majority of Russians opted for him (6%). Those who voted for other candidates did so either not to increase the number of Yeltsin`s supporters (29%) or to traditionally support the communists (16%). Those who did not take part in elections were those who were confident that the results would be predetermined (6%) or those who could not take part due to objective reasons (22%).
Asked how they would have voted if they knew about the results of the Yeltsin`s policies, the majority of respondents who participated in the voting reported nothing would have changed in their electoral behavior (47%). As a rule, they are those who currently support non-parliament parties (64%), absentees (58%) and elderly respondents (50%). Every third recognizes he/she would have made another choice (33%). They are mainly respondents aged 45-59 (37%).
Russians voting for Yeltsin in 1991 report they would have acted differently if they knew the results of his policies in advance (46%). Those who either did not support this politician or did not participate in the voting say that if they knew about the results of his policies they would not have changed their mind (77% and 48% respectively).
Thinking over the current situation in Russia in case Yeltsin did not win in 1991, a relative majority of respondents suppose that our country would have lived better (37%). This stance is mainly shared by elderly Russians (45%), CPRF supporters (58%) and those who voted against Yeltsin in 1991 (67%). The share of those who think that things in Russia would have been even worse in case Yeltsin lost is much smaller (15%). Those are mainly supporters of non-parliament parties (25%), 35-44-year-old Russians (19%), and respondents who supported Yeltsin twenty years ago (31%). Almost one-quarter of Russians think that it did not have any impact on Russia`s history (23%). Most of those who think so are Fair Russia party adherents (30%) and those who did not participate in the election of 1991 (35%).
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The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on June 4-5, 2011. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Could you remember, you voted for or against Yeltsin, or you did not participate in the voting at all in the 1991 presidential elections? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 1996 | 2011 |
For | 49 | 29 |
Against | 16 | 12 |
I did not participate in election | 15 | 12 |
I did not take part because I did not turn 18 | 8 | 36 |
Hard to tell/I do not remember | 12 | 11 |
What was the crucial factor for you in 1991 to choose the right candidate or to refuse to vote? (open-ended question, any number of answers) | |||
| For Yeltsin | Against Yeltsin | I did not take in election |
The results were predetermined without my participation | 0 | 2 | 6 |
There were no suitable candidates | 8 | 7 | 0 |
The majority voted for this candidate | 6 | 1 | 0 |
I could not participate in the voting (due to health problems, absent from the city, et cet.) | 0 | 0 | 22 |
I did not trust the politician after the fall of the USSR | 1 | 1 | 0 |
He was an extraordinary person; he was not like others | 1 | 0 | 0 |
I have always supported the communists | 0 | 16 | 0 |
I believed in the political program of this candidate, his promises | 60 | 19 | 0 |
There was an active campaign for this candidate | 3 | 1 | 0 |
I did not trust Yeltsin |
| 29 | 3 |
Other | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Hard to tell | 23 | 25 | 62 |
If you knew the outcome of the Yeltsin`s policies, would you have changed your decision to participate or not to participate in the voting, or to vote for a particular candidate or not? (close-ended question, one answer, % of those who could take part in the election of 1991) | ||||
| Total respodnents | Who voted for Yeltsin | Who voted against Yeltsin | Who did not participate in election |
Rather yes | 33 | 46 | 14 | 24 |
Rather no | 47 | 38 | 77 | 48 |
Hard to tell | 21 | 16 | 9 | 27 |
Imagine, Yeltsin lost the election of 1991. In your opinion, would anything have changed in the history of Russia or not? If yes, then how? (close-ended question, one answer, % of those who could participate in the election of 1991) | |||||
| Total respodnents | Who voted for Yeltsin | Who voted against Yeltsin | Who did not participate in election | Who could not participate in election due to age restrictions |
Now our country would have lived better | 37 | 31 | 67 | 36 | 32 |
Now our country would have lived even worse | 15 | 22 | 5 | 9 | 16 |
Nothing would have changed | 23 | 22 | 15 | 35 | 20 |
Hard to tell | 26 | 25 | 13 | 19 | 33 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!