Income Inequality and Voter Turnout

Abstract

Despite the importance of the topic in the era of growing income inequality around the world, it remains inconclusive whether higher income inequality in the society exaggerates or lessens income bias in turnout (i.e., high-income citizens are more likely to vote than low-income citizens). This study revisits this question and ultimately offers novel evidence about how and why income inequality changes the degree of income bias. Our analysis using large-scale cross-national survey data reveals that: (1) strong income bias in voter turnout exists in many parts of the world, (2) higher income inequality in the society tends to reduce income bias in turnout by demobilizing high-income citizens and mobilizing low-income citizens, and (3) this relationship arises partly because vote buying is more common in societies with higher income inequality, which mobilizes low-income citizens but decreases political efficacy among high-income citizens. Ultimately, this study suggests that growing income inequality does not exaggerate political inequality, but might challenge the legitimacy of democratic elections due to the higher prevalence of vote buying.