How individuals' social characteristics impact the likelihood to waste a vote – evidence from Great Britain, Germany and France. Issue 3 (3rd July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kroeber, Corinna; Le Gall, Cal; Dingler, Sarah C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of elections, public opinions & parties. Volume 31:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 388
• Page End: 407
• Publication Date: 2021-07-03
• Subjects: Wasted votes -- electoral behaviour -- social characteristics -- education -- gender -- age; Elections -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Political parties -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Public opinion -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1945- -- Periodicals; 324.941086005
• DOI: 10.1080/17457289.2020.1718155
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-7289

Abstract

ABSTRACT : Which social characteristics of voters reduce the chances to waste a vote? Surprisingly, little is known about the commonalities and differences of citizens who do (not) make their vote count. In this article, we argue that levels of education and income, gender and age shape the likelihood to waste a vote through two channels: the voting motivation and the ability to correctly assess the viability of candidates. Drawing on data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems, we analyse voting behaviour in six elections in Great Britain, Germany and France between 2005 and 2015. Our analyses demonstrate that holding a university degree is not related to effective voting. Differences in cognitive capacities as a consequence of formal education are hence not decisive for voters' ability to assess candidates' viability correctly. Instead, our results show that many of those wasting their ballots are male and young voters who tend to knowingly decide to support candidates unlikely to win. Overall, these findings shed light on wasted votes as one of the factors that might balance and reinforce existing social inequalities in the political process.