Turnout and Information Effects on Election Outcomes in a Comparative Perspective

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Abstract (may include machine translation)

The paper offers a cross-national empirical analysis that connects two lines of arguments about the determinants of election outcomes. The first posits that because of correlations between socio-economic status and some socio-demographic variables on the one hand, and both vote choice and electoral participation on the other, election results may be significantly different from those observed if turnout approached 100 percent. A parallel argument suggests that despite voters' occasionally skilful use of ingenious information shortcuts, observed election outcomes still differ from those that would obtain in an electorate fully informed about the given choice set. The apparent implication of both arguments is that it is the less resourceful groups whose underlying preferences remain underrepresented at the polls. The paper develops at some length on the concepts involved in these propositions and the methodological problems that their empirical testing poses. Finally, data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems is utilized to empirically evaluate the above propositions.
Original languageEnglish
Pages12-14
Number of pages3
StatePublished - 2000
EventParticipation Conference at Princeton University -
Duration: 12 Oct 200014 Oct 2000

Conference

ConferenceParticipation Conference at Princeton University
Period12/10/0014/10/00

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