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Emigrant Inclusion in Home Country Elections: Theory and Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa

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  • WELLMAN, ELIZABETH IAMS

Abstract

Since 1990, nearly 100 countries extended voting rights to citizens living abroad, including 32 in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the actual ability for emigrants to vote in subsequent elections varies widely. Whereas others view diaspora enfranchisement as a signal to emigrant and international audiences, I argue that incumbent parties expand or restrict emigrant voter access depending on party perceptions of political support abroad. I first leverage the multiple reversals over emigrant inclusion in South African elections since 1994 to illuminate how changing dynamics between an incumbent party and citizens abroad shape emigrant voter access. I further test my argument with an original dataset covering multiple dimensions of external voting in every African election where emigrants had voting rights from 1990 to 2015. I find a robust relationship between emigrant voter access and diaspora support for the incumbent party.

Suggested Citation

  • Wellman, Elizabeth Iams, 2021. "Emigrant Inclusion in Home Country Elections: Theory and Evidence from sub-Saharan Africa," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 115(1), pages 82-96, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:115:y:2021:i:1:p:82-96_7
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    Cited by:

    1. Giesing, Yvonne & Schikora, Felicitas, 2023. "Emigrants’ missing votes," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    2. Nadia Eldemerdash, 2025. "Physically Here, Mentally There? A Study of Transnational Links and Civic Engagement Among Migrants in the USA," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 2019-2044, September.
    3. Anna Kyriazi & Mariana S. Mendes & Julia Rone & Manès Weisskircher, 2023. "The Politics of Emigration in Europe: A Research Agenda," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(2), pages 563-575, March.
    4. Sebastián Umpierrez de Reguero & Patricio Navia, 2024. "Why Do Non‐Resident Citizens Get Elected? Candidates' Electoral Success in Ecuadorian Extraterritorial Districts," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 12.
    5. Sem I‐dé Dringa & Nadege Ngah Otabela & Patrick Marie Nga Ndjobo, 2025. "Perception of Democracy and Women's Desire to Emigrate: Evidence From Sub‐Saharan Africa," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 37(1), March.
    6. Dev, Divya & Poblete-Cazenave, Rubén & Toppeta, Alessandro, 2024. "Voting from abroad: Assessing the impact of local turnout on migrants’ voting behavior," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(3), pages 663-678.

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