Abstract
The second-order paradigm is the dominant framework for research on electoral behavior in European Parliament (EP) elections. In this study, we assess to what degree voting patterns in the 2014 EP election were characterized by second-orderness. While most studies of second-order voting behavior rely on macro-level accounts or suffer from potentially conflated vote measures, this study relies on panel data from the 2013 national and the 2014 EP election in Austria. We study change patterns in electoral behavior and, more importantly, assess the motives behind differences in vote choices between first- and second-order elections. Overall, the findings point towards a persisting relevance of the second-order framework for explaining voting in the 2014 EP election.
Highlights
European Parliament (EP) elections have generally been described as second-order elections (Reif & Schmitt, 1980, 1997)
While our study does not address the differential strengths of EU attitudes as motivation for voting behavior at different elections, we look at EU attitudes being a motivation to change one’s vote from national to EP elections
When considering vote switching from government to opposition parties and vice versa, the picture is quite clear, but somewhat less pronounced. Of those who voted for a government party at the national election, some 18 per cent switched to voting for an opposition party in the EP election, while less than ten per cent of those who cast a national election vote for an opposition party switched to a government party
Summary
European Parliament (EP) elections have generally been described as second-order elections (Reif & Schmitt, 1980, 1997). As a consequence of the economic and financial crisis starting in 2008, the EU underwent what some called a “Euro crisis” with Greece at its center Such a crisis of one of the most visible successes of European integration, the common currency, was likely to place the 2014 EP election high on the political and public agenda. We draw on a unique online panel survey database of Austrian voters surveyed during both national and EP election periods. This allows us to assess whether citizens behave differently in first- versus second-order elections. Do we obtain a better insight into the behavior of individuals at different types of elections, we are able to extend the literature on second-order elections
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