Voter Turnout and the Benefits of Voting

A model of voting behavior is developed that predicts that individuals vote if the absolute value of voting for or against a referendum exceeds the cost of voting. The results obtained from examining voting on city-county consolidation referenda and in New York state (1) provide support for the rela...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public choice 1980-01, Vol.35 (5), p.575-585
Main Authors: Filer, John E., Kenny, Lawrence W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absolute value
Ballots
Behavior/Behavioral
Benefits
Bond issues
Cities
Economic benefits
Prediction/Predictions/ Predictive/ Predictors/ Predicability
Referendums
Voter registration
Voter turnout
Voting
Voting behavior
Voting/Voter/Voters
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Summary:A model of voting behavior is developed that predicts that individuals vote if the absolute value of voting for or against a referendum exceeds the cost of voting. The results obtained from examining voting on city-county consolidation referenda and in New York state (1) provide support for the relatively untested prediction that turnout rises as the absolute value of the mean gains resulting from an electoral outcome increase and (2) augment the evidence that turnout rises as the probability of altering an electoral outcome increases and falls as the cost of voting rises.
ISSN:0048-5829
1573-7101
DOI:10.1007/BF00140087