When Generational Replacement is Class Biased: Chilean Turnout (1989-2008)

Abstract

We study the decline of turnout by generational replacement and the composition of the new electorate in the post authoritarian Chile (1989-2008). High voting cohorts have been displaced by low voting ones. For those Chileans who lived under the authoritarian rule in the 80s average turnout exceeds 90%, whereas for those aged less than 30 it falls behind 25%. The socioeconomic composition of the new cohorts provides therefore enlightening information about turnout's future evolution. As is the case in other developed democracies, Chilean younger voters are strongly class biased, meaning that income is a robust explanation for both registration and turnout.