Citizens' views of election fraud in authoritarian settings vary greatly.

Data & Methods:

Drawing on literature about information processing, this article argues that political orientation drives these differences. Using data from the 2012 Russian presidential election (observational) and a survey experiment, it demonstrates how citizens' underlying political leanings influence both what information they seek out and how they interpret it.

Key Findings:

Survey results reveal stark contrasts in fraud perceptions based on self-identified political orientation. Pro-government supporters show significantly less concern about reported fraud incidents than opposition-leaning citizens.

Why It Matters:

These findings highlight crucial dynamics affecting authoritarian regime stability. Internet access and election monitoring reports may disproportionately influence certain citizen segments, potentially altering electoral outcomes or fueling unrest depending on the population's ideological makeup.

This research shows how information acquisition processes differ along political divides.