Publication
Title
Preference votes without preference? Institutional effects on preference voting: an experiment
Author
Abstract
A classical question of political science is to what extent electoral systems influence voting behaviour. Yet, many of these studies examine how different electoral systems affect the election results in terms of vote distribution across parties. Instead, we investigate how electoral rules affect intra party preference voting. Given the importance of the debate on the personalization of politics, insight into how electoral rules shape intra-party choice is a valuable contribution to the literature. In our study, we focus on the effect of two specific rules: the option to cast a list vote and on a single versus multiple preference votes. The results of experiments conducted in Belgium and the Netherlands show that electoral rules indeed influence voting behaviour with regard to intra party preference voting, although differences exist between the Netherlands and Belgium. Moreover, we find that the option to cast a list vote equally affects votes for the first candidate on the list, as well as lower positioned candidates. This suggests that preference votes might be less preferential than has often been assumed.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of elections, public opinion and parties. - Place of publication unknown
Publication
Place of publication unknown : 2017
ISSN
1745-7289
1745-7297
DOI
10.1080/17457289.2016.1243542
Volume/pages
27 :2 (2017) , p. 172-191
ISI
000407501000005
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Understanding personalized voting. Media and campaign effects in local and national elections.
Publication type
Subject
Law 
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
VABB-SHW
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 19.12.2016
Last edited 25.05.2022
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