Split ticket voting in the 1995 Russian Duma elections

McAllister, I. and White, S.L. (2000) Split ticket voting in the 1995 Russian Duma elections. Electoral Studies, 19(4), pp. 563-576. (doi: 10.1016/S0261-3794(99)00031-1)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0261-3794(99)00031-1

Abstract

High levels of split ticket voting in elections usually indicate either an instrumental electorate, or widespread disaffection from the major parties. Elections to the Russian lower house, the Duma, permit voters both party list options and single-member ballots; as a result, the 1993 and 1995 Duma elections recorded some of the highest levels of split ticket voting ever recorded. Using national survey data collected just after the 1995 Duma election, we test two major explanations for split ticket voting, one based on the activities of voters, the other on the strategic behaviour of parties. The results show that split ticket voting is caused by voters, and more specifically, by their weak attachments to parties. But party strategy also plays a modest role in promoting the phenomenon. In the absence of major reform of the Russian electoral system, split ticket voting is likely to remain at high levels.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:White, Professor Stephen
Authors: McAllister, I., and White, S.L.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Politics
Journal Name:Electoral Studies
ISSN:0261-3794
ISSN (Online):1873-6890
Published Online:18 July 2000

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