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Candidate Filtering: The Strategic Use of Electoral Fraud in Russia

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  • David Szakonyi

    (George Washington University)

Abstract

Incumbents have many tools to tip elections in their favor, yet we know little about how they choose between strategies. By comparing various tactics, this paper argues that electoral malpractice centered on manipulating institutions offers the greatest effectiveness while shielding incumbents from public anger and criminal prosecution. To demonstrate this, I focus on one widespread institutional tactic: preventing candidates from accessing the ballot. First, in survey experiments, Russian voters respond less negatively to institutional manipulations, such as rejecting candidates, than to blatant fraud, such as ballot-box stuffing. Next, using evidence from 25,935 Russian mayoral races, I show that lower societal and implementation costs enable incumbents to strategically reject candidacies from credible challengers and then reduce their electoral vulnerability. In all, the technology behind specific manipulations helps determine when and how incumbents violate electoral integrity.

Suggested Citation

  • David Szakonyi, 2020. "Candidate Filtering: The Strategic Use of Electoral Fraud in Russia," Working Papers 2020-23, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:gwi:wpaper:2020-23
    as

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    File URL: http://www2.gwu.edu/~iiep/assets/docs/papers/2020WP/SzakonyiIIEP2020-23.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David Szakonyi, 2018. "Private Sector Policymaking," Working Papers 2018-8, The George Washington University, Institute for International Economic Policy.
    2. Tomila Lankina & Alisa Voznaya, 2015. "New Data on Protest Trends in Russia's Regions," Europe-Asia Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 67(2), pages 327-342, February.
    3. Nichter, Simeon, 2008. "Vote Buying or Turnout Buying? Machine Politics and the Secret Ballot," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 102(1), pages 19-31, February.
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    5. Georgy Egorov & Konstantin Sonin, 2014. "Incumbency Advantage in Non-Democracies," NBER Working Papers 20519, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Simpser,Alberto, 2013. "Why Governments and Parties Manipulate Elections," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781107030541, September.
    7. Miguel R. Rueda, 2017. "Small Aggregates, Big Manipulation: Vote Buying Enforcement and Collective Monitoring," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 61(1), pages 163-177, January.
    8. Jody LaPorte, 2015. "Hidden in plain sight: political opposition and hegemonic authoritarianism in Azerbaijan," Post-Soviet Affairs, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(4), pages 339-366, July.
    9. Regina Smyth & Rostislav Turovsky, 2018. "Legitimising Victories: Electoral Authoritarian Control in Russia’s Gubernatorial Elections," Europe-Asia Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 70(2), pages 182-201, February.
    10. Cameron Ross, 2018. "Regional elections in Russia: instruments of authoritarian legitimacy or instability?," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(1), pages 1-9, December.
    11. Frye, Timothy & Reuter, Ora John & Szakonyi, David, 2019. "Hitting Them With Carrots: Voter Intimidation and Vote Buying in Russia," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 49(3), pages 857-881, July.
    12. Frye, Timothy & Reuter, Ora John & Szakonyi, David, 2019. "Hitting Them With Carrots: Voter Intimidation and Vote Buying in Russia – CORRIGENDUM," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 49(3), pages 882-882, July.
    13. Rundlett, Ashlea & Svolik, Milan W., 2016. "Deliver the Vote! Micromotives and Macrobehavior in Electoral Fraud," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 110(1), pages 180-197, February.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    electoral fraud; authoritarianism; Russia; public opinion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D7 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making
    • H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General

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