Turnout in developed and developing countries: Are the two turnout functions different or the same?. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stockemer, Daniel
• Is Part Of: Political science. Volume 67:Number 1(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 3
• Page End: 20
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Developed countries -- developing countries -- turnout; Political science -- Periodicals; Science politique -- Périodiques; Politieke wetenschappen; Electronic journals; 320.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0032318715585033
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-3187

Abstract

The literature on political participation lacks a baseline model of electoral turnout. Various studies, which employ different sample sizes, time periods, cases and operationalisations of relevant independent variables, produce contradictory results. To shed light on these diverse findings, I evaluate whether different levels of development trigger different turnout functions. Not only do I find that highly developed countries have the highest levels of citizen participation in elections, but my results also illustrate that the turnout functions in high-income and low/medium-income countries are quite dissimilar. Compulsory voting and decisive elections have a different impact in the two universes of cases.