Electoral fraud and voter turnout

Vardan Baghdasaryan, Giovanna, Iannantuoni and Valeria Maggian

No 315, Working Papers from University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Economics

Abstract: In this paper we experimentally investigate the consequences of electoral fraud on voter turnout. The experiment is based on a strategic binary voting model where voters decide whether to cast a costly vote in favour of their preferred candidate or to abstain. Minority candidate can illicitly influence the electoral process by applying ballot box stuffing. In the experiment we implement two different framings: we compare voter turnout in a neutral environment and with framed instructions to explicitly replicate elections. This approach enables to both test the model's predictions and to estimate framing effects of voting and fraud. Comparison of experimental results with theoretical predictions reveals over-voting, which is exac- erbated when fraud is applied. Moreover, turnout increases with moderate level of fraud. However, with more extensive electoral fraud, theoretical predictions are not matched. Voters fail to recognize that the existence of a relatively larger number of "agents" voting with certainty considerably decreases the benefits of voting. Importantly, framing matters, as revealed by the higher turnout of those in the majority group, against which the fraud is applied. Finally, individual level regression analysis provides evidences of strategic voting.

Keywords: Laboratory experiment; Framing; Voting; Ballot rigging and Voter turnout (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C52 C91 C92 D72 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 46
Date: 2015-11-25, Revised 2015-11-25
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cdm, nep-exp and nep-pol
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Electoral fraud and voter turnout (2016)
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