Disengaging voters: Do plurality systems discourage the less knowledgeable from voting?

Stephen D. Fisher*, Laurence Lessard-Phillips, Sara B. Hobolt, John Curtice

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A number of studies have found that turnout tends to be lower under plurality rule than when some system of proportional representation is in place. Meanwhile, there is reason to believe that when turnout is lower, it is voters who are less knowledgeable about politics who are particularly less likely to participate. This suggests that turnout is lower under plurality rule because those with weaker motivations to vote are particularly discouraged from voting. We consider whether this is the case and if so, why. We examine four main reasons why the electoral system might influence the relationship between political knowledge and turnout: district competitiveness, mobilization efforts, efficacy, and the size and polarization of the party system. Using data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems project, we find that those with low levels of knowledge are indeed particularly less likely to vote under plurality rule. However, why this is the case is more difficult to ascertain.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)89-104
Number of pages16
JournalElectoral Studies
Volume27
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Comparative study of electoral systems
  • Plurality systems
  • Political knowledge
  • Turnout

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sociology and Political Science

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