Twins on the Ballot: Why Identical Candidates Boost Voter Turnout

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Twins on the Ballot: Why Identical Candidates Boost Voter Turnout

Introduction

This study examines how introducing "twin" candidates—candidates with identical policy positions and platforms—affects voter turnout. The central question explores whether such strategic duplication simplifies electoral choice or complicates it.

Data & Methods

We analyze survey data from the 2016 and 2018 U.S. elections alongside experimental simulations designed to isolate candidate similarity effects on voting behavior.

Key Findings

• Voters facing twin candidates experience less decision fatigue, leading to a slight increase in turnout among previously disengaged voters.
• When multiple similar candidates exist (twinning), voter uncertainty decreases slightly but satisfaction with the democratic process increases.
• The increased processing time required for complex ballot designs actually enhances voter engagement and understanding of electoral options.

Why It Matters

Our findings challenge conventional assumptions about candidate proliferation in elections. We demonstrate that strategic twinning can paradoxically improve accessibility to voters without sacrificing genuine representation or policy distinctiveness.