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The impact of postal voting on participation: evidence for Switzerland

Luechinger, Simon and Rosinger, Myra and Stutzer, Alois. (2007) The impact of postal voting on participation: evidence for Switzerland. Swiss Political Science Review, 13 (2). pp. 167-202.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A5248940

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Abstract

Many countries are forging ahead with convenient balloting methods, in particular electronic and postal voting, in order to re‐engage voters. In this paper, we test whether the cost reductions through postal voting increase turnout. The empirical analysis is based on a newly collected data set on the introduction of postal voting in Swiss cantons. We take advantage of the unique fact that voting by mail was introduced at different times across cantons. This allows identifying the impact of postal voting on turnout, independent of time, issue and canton‐specific effects. The estimated average effect on turnout is roughly 4.1 percentage points for an average turnout of 43 percent between 1970 and 2005.
Faculties and Departments:06 Faculty of Business and Economics > Departement Wirtschaftswissenschaften > Professuren Wirtschaftswissenschaften > Politische Ökonomie (Stutzer)
UniBasel Contributors:Stutzer, Alois
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:1424-7755
e-ISSN:1662-6370
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
Language:English
Identification Number:
edoc DOI:
Last Modified:01 Jun 2018 12:55
Deposited On:22 Mar 2012 14:08

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