Who casts blank or spoiled ballots under mandatory voting? This study identifies politically unengaged, distrusting, disaffected individuals as driving increased invalid balloting in countries with compulsory voting. A key finding reveals that these voters turn out primarily to avoid sanctions for abstention rather than participate meaningfully. Why It Matters: The results suggest voter engagement campaigns might help mitigate this problem.
📊 Data & Methods
Survey data from several American democracies, many of which compel electoral participation, were analyzed at the individual level to examine how compulsory voting influences invalid balloting rates.
🔍 Key Findings
- Higher rates of blank/spoiled ballots occur in countries with compulsory voting systems.
- These higher rates are linked to voters who lack political knowledge or interest (the politically unengaged).
- Voters who distrust the system and feel disaffected also disproportionately use invalid options.
💡 Significance
This research demonstrates how mandatory voting can interact unexpectedly with public sentiment.
