Voter Turnout and the Dynamics of Electoral Competition in Established Democracies Since 1945Voting is a habit. People learn the habit of voting, or not, based on experience in their first few elections. Elections that do not stimulate high turnout among young adults leave a 'footprint' of low turnout in the age structure of the electorate as many individuals who were new at those elections fail to vote at subsequent elections. Elections that stimulate high turnout leave a high turnout footprint. So a country's turnout history provides a baseline for current turnout that is largely set, except for young adults. This baseline shifts as older generations leave the electorate and as changes in political and institutional circumstances affect the turnout of new generations. Among the changes that have affected turnout in recent years, the lowering of the voting age in most established democracies has been particularly important in creating a low turnout footprint that has grown with each election. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Confronting the Puzzles of Voter Turnout | 9 |
A New Approach to the Calculus of Voting | 37 |
The Role of Generational Replacement in Turnout Change | 59 |
Rational Responses to Electoral Competition | 91 |
Explaining Turnout Change in TwentyTwo Countries | 119 |
The Character of Elections and the Individual Citizen | 151 |
Understanding Turnout Decline | 171 |
The Turnout Puzzles Revisited | 201 |
The Surveys Employed in This Book | 225 |
Aggregate Data for Established Democracies 19451999 | 231 |
Supplementary Findings | 237 |
| 251 | |
| 263 | |
| 267 | |
Other editions - View all
Voter Turnout and the Dynamics of Electoral Competition in Established ... Mark N. Franklin No preview available - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
Actual turnout already American analysis appears average basis behavior benefits cause Chapter character of elections choice close coefficients cohorts compared competition consequences countries cumulative decline democracies dependent effects Election Study electoral employed equation errors established estimate expected experience explained extent fact factors fall Figure findings Franklin give habit higher important included increase independent variables individual influences initiation interaction interest Italy later learned less lower majority margin of victory mean measure mobilization occurred outcome overall party past percent period political possible Predicted preferred presidential proportion question race rational reason recent reform responsiveness result rise role seen short-term significant social suggest Switzerland Table tion turn turnout change turnout decline United University variables variations voter turnout voting age young
References to this book
The Oxford Handbook of Political Behavior Russell J. Dalton,Hans-Dieter Klingemann No preview available - 2007 |