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Representation and voter participation
Author(s) -
Blondel Jean,
Sinnott Richard,
Svensson Palle
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
european journal of political research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.267
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1475-6765
pISSN - 0304-4130
DOI - 10.1111/1475-6765.00341
Subject(s) - circumstantial evidence , eurobarometer , parliament , voting , representation (politics) , political science , turnout , proportionality (law) , european union , politics , electoral system , political economy , positive economics , sociology , economics , democracy , law , economic policy
This paper presents results from a study of turnout in the 1994 European Parliament elections which inserted several new questions into the post–election Eurobarometer, including some open–ended questions. It distinguishes between circumstantial and voluntary abstention and shows how each type varies depending on the institutional arrangements for the election. Using both the subjective reasons given for abstention and a range of more objective measures of attitudes, it makes the case that conventional views as to the impact of Sunday–voting and the proportionality of the electoral system and as to the non–impact of attitudes to the European Union need to be modified. It concludes by identifying some practical institutional and political measures that could encourage higher levels of participation.