Do Elections Reduce Partisan Misperceptions? Evidence from a Democratic Transition in Bangladesh

We examine whether democratic elections correct citizens’ misperceptions about opposing partisans’ commitment to democracy. Using repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted immediately before and after Bangladesh’s first competitive national election in nearly two decades, we measure respondents’ own democratic beliefs and their perceptions of rival partisans’ beliefs. Prior to the election, opposition supporters held substantially more skeptical views about the election-winning party’s democratic commitment than its own supporters. After the election, opposition supporters revised these perceptions upward by roughly 10 percentage points. However, this belief correction did not translate into improved institutional attitudes. Opposition supporters who updated their beliefs about opponents reported declines in economic expectations, perceived electoral accountability, and trust in politicians. Non-voters showed the opposite pattern, reporting improved institutional evaluations without belief updating. Elections can thus correct what citizens believe about one another, but not what they expect from democratic institutions.