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Contested Elections And The Power Of New Voters: The Impact Of Extending Voting Rights To Non-Citizens

Author

Listed:
  • Iñigo Iturbe-Ormaetxe

    (: Departamento de Fundamentos del An·lisis EconÛmico (FAE), Universidad de Alicante.)

  • Santiago Sanchez-Pages

    (King's College London.)

  • Angel Solano-Garcia

    (Department of Economic Theory and Economic History, University of Granada.)

Abstract

We examine the redistributive effects of extending voting rights to non-citizens. Our hypothesis is that the impact of this reform depends on the political power wielded by new voters to change the status quo. Specifically, we anticipate a greater power when elections are more contested. To investigate this hypothesis, we analyze the 1975 Swedish electoral reform, which granted voting rights to non-citizens in local elections. Our findings reveal a significant and one-time increase in local taxes right after the reform. This tax hike was more pronounced in municipalities with a higher proportion of non-citizens. This effect was concentrated in municipalities where the size of the newly enfranchised electorate was substantial enough to potentially upturn the outcome of the previous election.

Suggested Citation

  • Iñigo Iturbe-Ormaetxe & Santiago Sanchez-Pages & Angel Solano-Garcia, 2023. "Contested Elections And The Power Of New Voters: The Impact Of Extending Voting Rights To Non-Citizens," ThE Papers 23/11, Department of Economic Theory and Economic History of the University of Granada..
    • Handle: RePEc:gra:wpaper:23/11
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    : Voting; Redistribution; Electoral reform; Immigration; Local elections.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration

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