El efecto de la posición del candidato en la papeleta de votación. El caso de las elecciones locales chilenas de 2008 y 2012

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze the effect of the position of the candidates on the voting card on their electoral performance. To do so, we use an open list voting system and the results of the Chilean local elections of 2008 and 2012, characterized by high-level party fragmentation and candidate lists. Using a multivariate linear regression model with fixed effects, we concluded that the voters —confronted with very large voting cards— use party labels as information shortcuts. Voters are subsequently more prone to vote for the first name that appears on the list of their coalition or party, increasing the probability of that candidate being elected. As such, in an open list voting system, the position of the candidate on the voting card is a relevant factor in explaining candidates’ success or failure.

Keywords

• Thesaurus: Chile; elections; political party; voting systems. Authors: candidates; effect of the position on the vote