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Can Electronic Voting Shape Election Outcomes in Developing Countries? Evidence from Peru

Author

Listed:
  • Rodrigo Chang
  • Laura Castellanos
  • Esteban Penelas
  • Javier Torres

Abstract

This paper estimates the impact of the introduction of electronic voting technology on Municipal elections in Peru. Using a territorial regression discontinuity design, we estimate the impact on valid votes, and voter turnout. We find that, on average, electronic voting technology decreases blank votes by 1.8 percentage points and invalid votes by 4.4 percentage points. However, it did not have a significant effect on turnout rate. Difference-in-differences estimations and subsequent robustness checks confirm the validity of our results.

Suggested Citation

  • Rodrigo Chang & Laura Castellanos & Esteban Penelas & Javier Torres, 2024. "Can Electronic Voting Shape Election Outcomes in Developing Countries? Evidence from Peru," Working Papers 203, Peruvian Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:apc:wpaper:203
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rodrigo Schneider & Diloá Athias & Mauricio Bugarin, 2020. "Electronic voting and public spending: the impact of de facto enfranchisement on federal budget amendments in Brazil," Journal of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(1), pages 299-315, January.
    2. Jinhai Yu, 2019. "Does State Online Voter Registration Increase Voter Turnout?," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 100(3), pages 620-634, May.
    3. Maarten Allers & Peter Kooreman, 2009. "More evidence of the effects of voting technology on election outcomes," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 139(1), pages 159-170, April.
    4. David Card & Enrico Moretti, 2007. "Does Voting Technology Affect Election Outcomes? Touch-screen Voting and the 2004 Presidential Election," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 89(4), pages 660-673, November.
    5. Allers, M. & Kooreman, P., 2009. "More evidence on the effects of voting technology on election outcomes," Other publications TiSEM 76b3f561-a37f-4a29-bfd9-0, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    6. Michael Tomz & Robert P. Van Houweling, 2003. "How Does Voting Equipment Affect the Racial Gap in Voided Ballots?," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 47(1), pages 46-60, January.
    7. Goodman, Nicole & Stokes, Leah C., 2020. "Reducing the Cost of Voting: An Evaluation of Internet Voting’s Effect on Turnout," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 50(3), pages 1155-1167, July.
    8. Thomas Fujiwara, 2015. "Voting Technology, Political Responsiveness, and Infant Health: Evidence From Brazil," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 83, pages 423-464, March.
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