Abstract
Abstentionism, blank vote and invalid ballots are electoral phenomena that are statistically growing in many Countries but don´t receive much attention and when they do, they are usually treated with a strong negative bias. This article explore this issue and it is divided in three part: In the first part we analyze how the literature currently defines and treats abstentionism, blank vote and invalid ballot. We find out they are usually treated as a single and unique “non-vote area” and we propose a different approach based in a more detailed view, combining methodological individualism and imperfect rationality. In the second part we show the empirical relevance of this three types of electoral outcomes in EU parliamentary elections and in Brazilian presidential ones. In the last part, we notice a negative bias toward these electoral behaviors to which we oppose a different point of view. In this line, at the end, we propose some possible changes in electoral systems in order to better intercept voters will.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.