Town Halls Boost Votes: Philippine Elections Show Active Engagement Works

In the 2019 Philippine congressional election, researchers partnered with two national parties to test a town hall campaign style. Candidates discussed their fixed platforms in small groups of citizens during this experimental intervention. The study found that these deliberative meetings increased voter engagement and positively impacted voting behavior compared to traditional campaigns or passive voter roles.

Data & Methods

• Randomized Experiment: Voters were randomly assigned to attend town hall discussions or serve as a control group experiencing the status quo campaign approach.
• Setting: Conducted during the Philippine 2019 congressional elections, involving citizens and two competing national parties.

Key Findings**

• Town halls significantly boosted vote shares for participating parties relative to control groups.
• These meetings directly increased voters' awareness of campaign issues discussed at length in small group settings.
• Effects were heterogeneous by income level, education, and gender - consistent with the parties' platform focus on underprivileged groups.

Why It Matters**

This research provides experimental evidence that deliberative campaigns can effectively persuade voters who might otherwise be disengaged or passive during elections. The findings highlight how structured dialogue in small groups enhances political participation compared to traditional, more impersonal campaign methods.