Voters’ Perceptions of Gender Differences in Vote Buying: The Case of Tanzania

Abstract

I examine how voters perceive gender differences in vote buying, using survey and interview data collected in the Dar es Salaam region, Tanzania. I find that (1) an overwhelming majority of voters disapprove of vote buying, yet view it as remaining prevalent, and (2) they view men as more active vote buyers, mainly due to the gender gap in vote-buying opportunities. The perceived opportunity gap appears to come from a much larger representation of men in electoral competitions, the perceived gender gap in resources, and the absence of women in certain places and times, due to social and cultural norms constraining women’s behaviours, safety concerns, and/or household responsibilities.