Does Ballot Box Position Influence Your Vote Choice? Quasi-Experimental Evidence

Ballots often list candidates in specific positions (e.g., top vs bottom). Does this position affect voter choice?

This study investigates two prominent theories: cue-taking and satisficing. We used quasi-experimental methods to analyze voting data from US elections.

Testing Theories

• Examined how ballot placement affects voter perception via randomized experiments across Canadian electoral cycles
• Compared the predictive power of position-based cues with other candidate characteristics in statistical models

Balanced Findings

• Demonstrated that both theories explain observed voting patterns effectively (p-value < .01)
• Found significant effects for top-positioned candidates regardless of their substantive qualifications
• Revealed bottom-position bias varies by electoral context and candidate type

Political Implications

These insights suggest ballot formatting may introduce systematic biases affecting election outcomes. Candidates' strategic placement could influence voter decision-making even without changing voter information.