Voter Turnout and Candidates

Question 1

How do electoral systems affect voters’ turnout?

Answer 1

• PR systems are generally linked with higher turnout according to Lijphart
• In plurality/majority systems, turnout tends to be higher when national election reults are expected to be close than when one party looks certain to win. Also higher in individual districts where results are expected to be closer

Question 2

Pivotal Voter Theory

Answer 2

Closely contested competitive elections will increase the chance that a single voter might become “pivotal” in determining the outcome, and thus increase the incentives for voters who care about the outcome to turn out and vote

Question 3

The Paradox of Voting

Answer 3

The probability of any one voter becoming pivotal would get closer and closer to 0 w/ the increase of electoral turnout

sooo why vote if it will be meaningless?

if the pivotal voter theory says a close race should increase turnout, shouldnt this predictable increased turnout then decrease turnout bc the probability of casting the decisive vote decreased with turnout

Question 4

Why do voters turnout on Election Day?

Answer 4

• Now voting is an easy and cheap act of political activism
• When people think there are problems with the system (low levels of esteem for politians and the representative institutions) -> low turn out
• Too frequent elections -> low turnout

Question 5

Electoral Fatigue

Answer 5

Too frequent elections (at different levels) reduce turnout

Question 6

Which kind of electoral system is linked with higher turnout?

Answer 6

Proportional Representation Systems

• Voters are likely to feel more “efficacious” in electoral systems that produce more proportional outcomes
• Higher M -> less disproportionality -> votes are more likely to count
• PR systems are more permissive to the entry of a greater # of parties
• PR elections tend to be more nationally competitve across districts than SSD elections
• PR systems may feature more powerful linkages btw aprties and groups in society, thereby facilitating mobilization (elite mobilization theories)

Question 7

Elite Mobilization Theory

Answer 7

Highlights the interplay btw power, resources, and influence in the political sphere. Contrasts theories emphasizing the roile of ordinary citizens and grassroots activism.

Question 8

Turnout in Plurality/Majority systems

Answer 8

In Plurality (FPTP): Pivtoral voter theory apples to every single district. Higher chance of wasted votes. Reduced # of competitive candidates/parties.
In 2-Round Systems: Additional burdens and costs for voters (voter exhaustion). Reduced choice in the 2nd round

Question 9

“safe seats” / “safe districts”

Answer 9

seats / districts that will most probably stay voting for a candidate or party that it has in the past

lower turn out

Question 10

The Washing Machine Metaphor

Answer 10

You don’t need to know how an electoral system works, you jsut need to know that it does

Question 11

Other than the overall system, what else can affect voter turnout?

Answer 11

• Is voting compulsory? Is this effectively enforced?
• Is there a minimum turnout level to make an election valid?
• Voting registration
• Organzation of polling stations
• Presenece of alternative ways of voting (postal, online, early voting in person)

Question 12

Do electoral systems affect the kind of candidates that run for office?

Answer 12

SMD based systems encourage candidates that wish to be seen as the representative of their geographical area and its interests

PR encourages a party loyalty over region loyalty

SMD encourages voters to make thier choice btw candidates instead of btw different political parties and programs

Question 13

Are certain categories of peoploe more likely to run for office?

Answer 13

Electoral rules can influence substantive representation and ideological congruence by affecting levles of descriptive representation

PR with large district magnitudes (M) produces greater descriptive representation of women than majoritarian systems (thus women are more encouraged to run bc of the higher chance of success)

Question 14

Descriptive representation

Answer 14

Representation on Paper

What are the actual statistics of each group representated (not how their interests are actually being promoted)

Question 15

Unequal Descriptive Representation

Answer 15

Some demographics (on paper) are over represented or under represented in legislative bodies

• CLASS!: parliaments have a huge unequal descriptive representation among class of legislators (legislators tend to come from privildged backgrounds)
• parliaments have become less descriptively representatice than in the past
• descriptive representation is skewed in the favor of affluent citizens

Question 16

Substantive Representation

Answer 16

The representation acts on behalf of the represented group regardless of any membership to that group

more important than descriptive representation

Question 17

Which Voting Systems have more women?

Answer 17

PR systems

Duverger 1955, Lakeman and Lambert 1955, Farrell 2001

SMD systems and preferential voting have fewer women than PR systems
Closed List PR increases the # of female MPs and could guarentee a minimum proportion of seats to ethnic minorities

Question 17

Women vs. Men deciding to be candidates

Answer 17

Women who share the same personal characterisitcs and professional credentials as men express significantly lower levels of political ambition

1. women are far less likely than men to be encouraged to run for office
2. women are significantly less liekly than men to view themselves as qualified to run