The value of simplicity: How turnout can be increased when voters understand what they are voting on

Abstract

An election’s character —defined as how close the election is thought to be— tends to be thought as the cause for differences in aggregate levels of turnout. Character, has also been used to explain when differences between the turnout numbers of two elections are still different. In this paper I propose new ways of measuring these unaccounted for «character» differences. Specifically, I argue that elections where voters have more difficulty understanding the proposal up for a vote will have lower turnout than those where proposals are clear-cut. I test these claims by using data from two similar and consecutive referendums carried out in Venezuela in 2007 and 2009. By using survey data and electoral results I am able to show that changes in turnout were related to changes in the difficulty of the reform proposal and not to the closeness of the races. The findings have great significance not only for the study of turnout in referendums but of turnout in general and speak broader to the mechanisms of voting. Where voting is more complicated turnout will be lower.