Voter Mobilisation and Trust in Electoral Institutions: Evidence from Kenya

Benjamin Marx, Vincent Pons and Tavneet Suri

The Economic Journal, 2021, vol. 131, issue 638, 2585-2612

Abstract: In a large-scale randomised experiment implemented with Kenya’s Electoral Commission, text messages intended to mobilise voters boosted electoral participation. However, the messages also decreased trust in electoral institutions after the election. This decrease was stronger for individuals on the losing side and in areas that experienced election-related violence. We hypothesise that the mobilisation campaign backfired because the Electoral Commission promised a transparent and orderly electoral process but failed to deliver on these expectations. Several potential mechanisms account for the intervention’s unexpected effects, including a simple model where signalling capacity via mobilisation messages can negatively affect beliefs about election fairness.

Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Working Paper: Voter Mobilisation and Trust in Electoral Institutions: Evidence from Kenya (2021)
Working Paper: Voter Mobilisation and Trust in Electoral Institutions: Evidence from Kenya (2021)
Working Paper: Voter Mobilization and Trust in Electoral Institutions: Evidence from Kenya (2017)
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