Who Really Votes? An Examination of Differential Voting Participation

This dissertation focuses upon this omission, as I explore the understudied phenomenon of differential voting participation, or participation in some contests, but not others on the same ballot. Using aggregate voting data, simulated election experiments and survey data, I endeavor to establish that differential voting participation is indeed worthy of additional study and to analyze various aspects of differential voting participation. To analyze the prevalence of differential voter participation, I compare the relative influence of ballot depth compared to those of other more commonly studied dimensions: time and location. I also examine how the straight-ticket option interacts with several individual traits to shape differential voting participation. Finally, I examine the impact of elite cues upon participation in proposition elections. Through these analyses, I endeavor to achieve a more accurate understanding of the entire voting process.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Political Science

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Lewkowicz, Michael Allen

Contributors dc:contributor

• Brian Gaines

• Political Science, General

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3290292

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/82578