“None of the Above?” Casting Blank Ballots in Ontario Provincial Elections

Are blank or unmarked ballots in an election a random event? The comparative literature on elections suggests otherwise, linking blank ballots to political protest or social and demographic characteristics of voters. Rational choice theory offers explanations rooted in civic duty and net benefits associated with uncompetitive elections. Similarly, when a voter decides to vote, the literature on party competition and electoral turnout offers the possibility that a blank ballot is another choice beyond voting for a specific candidate or party. While little research exists on blank ballots in election systems lacking compulsory voting, this article presents an exploratory analysis using data from the 1999 and 2003 provincial elections in Ontario. The study finds that while demographic characteristics matter, party competition also provides an explanation for casting blank ballots consistent with expectations of rational choice theory.