How Do Voters Overcome Impulsiveness? New Insights on Present Bias

Problem/Behavior: Many citizens express intent but fail to vote due to a lack of follow-through.

Solution/Framework: Applying findings from behavioral economics, this study argues impulsiveness driven by present bias limits collective action like voting. Using a nationally representative survey merged with administrative records, it finds that those struggling with delayed gratification are around ten points less likely to cast ballots — even after stating their intention beforehand.

Implications for Political Science:

* Key Findings: The gap between pre-election intention and actual turnout is partly attributable to present bias. This novel framework connects impulsiveness research to voter behavior, explaining why reported turnout often overstated the commitment of citizens motivated by future benefits (like societal good).

Why It Matters:

This study provides crucial empirical grounding for understanding low political participation.

These findings highlight a persistent challenge in translating democratic ideals into everyday voting behaviors. The results offer concrete evidence that policies designed to boost voter turnout should explicitly target present bias, perhaps through mechanisms like advance registration and automatic ballot tracking.