What drives citizens to vote in autocratic elections?

This study challenges conventional wisdom by arguing that expressive motivations—like civic duty or a desire for democratic change—are as, if not more, significant than economic incentives such as patronage.

Data & Methods: Data from an original quasi-national survey conducted across Cameroon reveals strong correlations between non-economic and voting behavior.

Key Findings: Expressive reasons account for substantial variation in vote choice among citizens facing severe economic hardship. While material rewards matter, they don't tell the whole story about Cameroonian participation during a period of significant resource scarcity.

Why It Matters: These insights complicate established models of democratization by explaining how some of Africa's poorest autocracies have maintained electoral systems despite decades-long economic stagnation.

The research demonstrates that even in contexts of profound poverty, people vote for more than just material gain. Expressive voting offers a crucial lens through which to understand political participation beyond clientelism.