How costly is voting? Explaining individual differences in the costs of voting

ABSTRACT

A more profound analysis of the variables in the voting equation is needed to improve our knowledge on voting. In this paper, we endogenize the costs of voting (C) and test several models with the help of the Making Electoral Democracy Work database, which contains information on C and its potential determinants for national elections in France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Canada. We test whether C is affected by socio-demographic and attitudinal factors related to: (a) informational costs, (b) the costs of the act of voting itself, and (c) those bound to lead to an ex-ante rationalization of C. By doing so, we contribute to bridging the rational choice and the sociological and psycho-sociological models of voting. We find strong evidence that the three types of factors have a statistical and substantive effect on C. In particular, C falls with party identification, education, union membership, years in the region where the elections are held, interest in politics and the importance attributed to elections, while it is higher for women and rural dwellers. Age shows a curvilinear relationship, initially reducing C and increasing it later. Contrary to expected, the presence of kids at home does not significantly increase C.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 Even though alternative lines of reasoning could be devised. Those with higher education might place a higher value on political outcomes and this may increase their willingness to incur higher information costs so as to avoid making “wrong” choices.

2 Other possibilities cannot be ruled out. Copeland and Laband (2002, 355) have suggested an inverted U-shape pattern because middle-aged citizens bear more responsibilities than younger and older ones, and face higher opportunity costs.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Andrés Santana

Andrés Santana is a quantitatively oriented political scientist. He researches on electoral behaviour, populism, and the gender gap in political representation. He has published in journals such as Politics & Gender, European Sociological Review, European Politics and Society, América Latina Hoy, Revista Española de Investigaciones Sociológicas, and Revista Internacional de Sociología, among others.

Susana Aguilar

Susana Aguilar is Full Professor of Political Sociology at the Complutense University (Madrid) and a PhD member of the Juan March Institute. She has participated in numerous EU research projects and published in journals such as Politics & Gender, Social Politics, Administration & Society, Politics and Religion, The Journal of Public Policy, and Southern European Society and Politics. She has contributed to books published in Oxford University Press, Routledge, Edward Elgar, Frank Caas, Springer, Berghahn Books, Scandinavian University Press, Nomos, Sigma, and Kluwer.