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Ambivalence, Information, and Electoral Choice

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  • BASINGER, SCOTT J.
  • LAVINE, HOWARD

Abstract

Conventional wisdom views voter choice in House elections as preordained by party identification, incumbency, and perceptions of national conditions. In an analysis of voter behavior in House elections between 1990 and 2000, we find instead that voters are quite heterogeneous. Voters who hold ambivalent partisan attitudes, who typically constitute 30% of the electorate, reduce their reliance on party identification; this effect is entirely independent of the strength of identification. Individuals holding ambivalent partisan attitudes that both lack political knowledge and are presented with little campaign stimulus are more likely to engage in economic voting. Individuals holding ambivalent partisan attitudes that either are knowledgeable about politics or are presented with stimulating campaigns are more likely to engage in ideological voting. Thus, campaign competition and national partisan competition each play a role in assuring that ordinary voters may participate meaningfully in the political process.

Suggested Citation

  • Basinger, Scott J. & Lavine, Howard, 2005. "Ambivalence, Information, and Electoral Choice," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 99(2), pages 169-184, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:99:y:2005:i:02:p:169-184_05
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    Cited by:

    1. Boyer, Pierre C. & Konrad, Kai A. & Roberson, Brian, 2017. "Targeted campaign competition, loyal voters, and supermajorities," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 49-62.
    2. Cengiz Erisen & Elif Erisen, 2014. "Attitudinal Ambivalence towards Turkey's EU Membership," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(2), pages 217-233, March.
    3. Agnieszka Walczak & Wouter van der Brug, 2013. "Representation in the European Parliament: Factors affecting the attitude congruence of voters and candidates in the EP elections," European Union Politics, , vol. 14(1), pages 3-22, March.
    4. Stuart J Turnbull-Dugarte, 2020. "Why vote when you cannot choose? EU intervention and political participation in times of constraint," European Union Politics, , vol. 21(3), pages 406-428, September.

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