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The heterogeneous effects of internet voting

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  • Ciancio, Alberto
  • Kämpfen, Fabrice

Abstract

A decline in voter turnout over the last decades has prompted governments to introduce technological innovations for voting. This paper studies the heterogeneous effects of internet voting on voter turnout and vote shares in the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland. Exploiting across-time and across-municipalities variations during the introduction of internet voting between 2006 and 2013, we find that internet voting increased the turnout of individuals aged 80 and above, particularly of male voters, but did not have any effects on younger individuals. As a result, the vote share of adults aged 80+ relatively increased following the introduction of internet voting. Overall, our study shows that although internet voting does not appear to have an effect on general turnout, it has reweighted the political power of some sociodemographic groups, giving more weight to males and older adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Ciancio, Alberto & Kämpfen, Fabrice, 2023. "The heterogeneous effects of internet voting," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:poleco:v:79:y:2023:i:c:s0176268023000885
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2023.102444
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Internet voting; Electoral turnout; Electoral participation; Vote shares; Switzerland;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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