The Limited Effects of Election Reforms on Efficacy and Engagement

Abstract

Rules governing the conduct of elections have important consequences for democratic politics, and much can be learned from studying changes in electoral rules. Instances of change (or reform) allow us the possibility of examining how (or whether) new rules might create different outcomes. The authors consider the effects of two major changes in electoral rules: the adoption of proportional representation in several settings, and the adoption of legislative term limits in the United States. They examine trends in voting, turnout and public attitudes before and after the adoption of these reforms. They do this to assess whether the reforms lived up to advocates' claims that new election rules might improve efficacy and voter participation. They suggest that reform efforts such as these may have only minimal effects on engaging citizens with politics.