Internet voting and turnout: Evidence from Switzerland. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Germann, Micha; Serdült, Uwe
• Is Part Of: Electoral studies. Volume 47(2017:Sep.)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 12
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: Internet voting -- Electoral turnout -- Electoral participation; Elections -- Periodicals; Voting -- Periodicals; 324.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electstud.2017.03.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-3794

Abstract

Abstract: Internet voting (i-voting) is often discussed as a potential remedy against declining turnout rates. This paper presents new evidence on the causal effect of i-voting on turnout, drawing on trials conducted in two Swiss cantons: Geneva and Zurich. Both Geneva and Zurich constitute hard cases for i-voting, given that i-voting was introduced in the presence of postal voting. However, this setting allows us to test some of the more optimistic claims regarding i-voting's ability to increase turnout. Empirically, we exploit the advantageous circumstance that federal legislation created a situation coming close to a natural experiment, with some of Geneva's and Zurich's municipalities participating in i-voting trials and others not. Using difference-in-differences estimation, we find that i-voting did not increase turnout in the cantons of Geneva and Zurich. Highlights: We investigate the effect of Internet voting on turnout in two Swiss cantons. In both cantons, Internet voting was introduced in the presence postal voting. Drawing on difference-in-differences estimation, we find no turnout effect.