Abstract

Highlights

• Models the effects of compulsory voting on political knowledge using CSES data.
• Compulsory voting is categorised as weakly, moderately and strongly enforced.
• Strong enforcement has positive effects on mean rates of knowledge.
• Moderate and strong enforcement decrease the direct effects of education on knowledge evident in voluntary voting systems.

Abstract

Compulsory voting is assumed to have both primary and secondary effects on citizens' political behaviour. While compulsion increases voter turnout, its effects on political engagement, democratic satisfaction, and electoral advantage are still debated. This study hypothesises that compulsory voting increases citizens’ political knowledge, either because voters choose to become informed given the requirement to vote, or because the process of voting itself imparts incidental knowledge. It also hypothesises that knowledge is distributed more evenly in compulsory systems. Multivariate analysis of data from the Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (Modules 1 to 4) finds some support for the first hypothesis, and stronger evidence in support of the second hypothesis. These findings inform normative debates on the merits of compulsory voting rules.

Keywords: Compulsory voting; Voting; Political knowledge; Elections