Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 33-41 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Electoral Studies |
| Volume | 42 |
| Early online date | 22 Jan 2016 |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2016 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Ideological proximity is not the sole determinant of electoral choices. Voters frequently select candidates whose policy profiles do not exhibit the closest match with their own policy preferences. Instead, non-spatial factors can govern the vote. The empirical literature has struggled to assess the effect of candidate valence on electoral outcomes due to the challenge of estimating a comprehensive indicator of candidate valence. This paper investigates the effect of non-spatial factors on candidates' electoral results by estimating candidate valences from a vote advice application. A conservative estimate based on an analysis of the two-tiered German federal election system suggests a surplus of several percentage points for high-valence candidates over low-valence competitors - even for competitors from minor parties.
Keywords
- Candidate valence, Germany, Mixed-member electoral systems, Non-policy voting
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Sciences(all)
- Political Science and International Relations
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In: Electoral Studies, Vol. 42, 06.2016, p. 33-41.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Electoral effects of candidate valence
AU - Nyhuis, Dominic
PY - 2016/6
Y1 - 2016/6
N2 - Ideological proximity is not the sole determinant of electoral choices. Voters frequently select candidates whose policy profiles do not exhibit the closest match with their own policy preferences. Instead, non-spatial factors can govern the vote. The empirical literature has struggled to assess the effect of candidate valence on electoral outcomes due to the challenge of estimating a comprehensive indicator of candidate valence. This paper investigates the effect of non-spatial factors on candidates' electoral results by estimating candidate valences from a vote advice application. A conservative estimate based on an analysis of the two-tiered German federal election system suggests a surplus of several percentage points for high-valence candidates over low-valence competitors - even for competitors from minor parties.
AB - Ideological proximity is not the sole determinant of electoral choices. Voters frequently select candidates whose policy profiles do not exhibit the closest match with their own policy preferences. Instead, non-spatial factors can govern the vote. The empirical literature has struggled to assess the effect of candidate valence on electoral outcomes due to the challenge of estimating a comprehensive indicator of candidate valence. This paper investigates the effect of non-spatial factors on candidates' electoral results by estimating candidate valences from a vote advice application. A conservative estimate based on an analysis of the two-tiered German federal election system suggests a surplus of several percentage points for high-valence candidates over low-valence competitors - even for competitors from minor parties.
KW - Candidate valence
KW - Germany
KW - Mixed-member electoral systems
KW - Non-policy voting
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84960368231&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.electstud.2016.01.007
DO - 10.1016/j.electstud.2016.01.007
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84960368231
VL - 42
SP - 33
EP - 41
JO - Electoral Studies
JF - Electoral Studies
SN - 0261-3794
ER -