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To vote or to abstain? An experimental study or first past the poste and PR elections

Author

Listed:
  • André Blais

    (UdeM - Université de Montréal)

  • Jean-Benoît Pilet

    (ULB - Université libre de Bruxelles)

  • Karine van Der Straeten

    (TSE-R - Toulouse School of Economics - UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - UT - Université de Toulouse - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Jean-François Laslier

    (X-DEP-ECO - Département d'Économie de l'École Polytechnique - X - École polytechnique - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris)

  • Maxime Heroux-Legault

    (UdeM - Université de Montréal)

Abstract

We examine through an experimental design how rational and non-rational considerations affect the decision to vote or to abstain in First Past the Post and PR elections. We show that in both types of elections, but particularly so under PR, a majority of subjects do not make the "right" decision, that is, they do not choose the option that is the most beneficial to them, given. We also demonstrate that a social norm such as sense of civic duty plays a bigger role, even in the lab, and particularly so in PR elections. We suggest that civic duty has a greater impact under PR because this electoral system has a more complicated formula, making it more difficult for voters to realize that their vote is unlikely to substantially affect the outcome of the election.

Suggested Citation

  • André Blais & Jean-Benoît Pilet & Karine van Der Straeten & Jean-François Laslier & Maxime Heroux-Legault, 2011. "To vote or to abstain? An experimental study or first past the poste and PR elections," Working Papers hal-00616823, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-00616823
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-00616823
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

    Experiments; Voting; First Past the Post; Proportional Representation; Civic Duty;
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