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Do Voting Advice Applications Change Political Behavior?

Author

Listed:
  • Christine Benesch
  • Rino L. Heim
  • Mark Schelker
  • Lukas D. Schmid

Abstract

We analyze how the introduction of the voting advice application smartvote in Switzerland affects voter turnout, voting behavior, and electoral outcomes. The Swiss context offers an ideal setting to identify the causal effects of voting advice applications using real-world aggregate data because smartvote was introduced in different cantons at different points in time. We find that smartvote does not affect turnout but that voters more actively select candidates instead of parties by splitting their ballot. Our findings suggest that no specific party seems to benefit from the change in voting behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine Benesch & Rino L. Heim & Mark Schelker & Lukas D. Schmid, 2021. "Do Voting Advice Applications Change Political Behavior?," CESifo Working Paper Series 8868, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_8868
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    elections; information; internet;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior

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